Seeking Approval #04: New York Fashion Week Recap
I take you through my week attending events at New York Fashion Week this season.
Styling and profiling at Libertine spring/summer 2025.
New York Fashion Week is an especially confronting time of year. In September and February writers, editors, designers, influencers and numberless other creatives in the fashion industry emerge from their day-to-day lives to come together for a collective trend-check. From the outside it appears fun, glamorous, the perfect recipe for F.O.M.O.
On the inside, however, the events often feel like a reminder of how small each of us is in this monster of an industry. That the countless hours we put in have only taken us as far as X invitation, or Y seating assignment. That taller, thinner people exist and there they go, walking one by one (sometimes two by two) down the runway. But also that, if we are one of the lucky few selected to judge the looks, maybe we are the superior ones after all.
It is an ugly blend of feelings that arrive at a very attractive time of year. Perhaps most absurdly, fashion week may be the worst time to be confronted with such thoughts and emotions. Deadlines are always aplenty in journalism, but when fashion week rolls around it can feel like (and may actually be) quadruple the deadlines with 1/16th of the time. In other words, the worst time of year for a person to be exposed to how small they are in the scheme of the fashion industry.
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For me, this season kicked off with a press appointment with New York-based accessories brand Amanda Pearl. Here’s what I wore to feel my best and maximize confidence at the meeting:
Comfort is key! In a LouLou Studio no-lapel blazer, Scanlan Theodore camisole (cashmere version), Sunday Best skirt with Ferragamo heels (similar), Kate Spade bag, Able rings and my trusty Goldstories evil eye pendant...you know, to protect from the haters.
Designer Amanda Brotman’s Pacific Northwest roots are reflected in her pieces here, which combine earthiness and vibrant colors:
Amanda Pearl’s best-selling opals.
Here, I try on the double finger ripple ring paired with my Able ivy ring and gold band (wavy similar one). On my left hand, Amanda Pearl’s ripple ring with demi pavé and ripple ring with marquise diamond and my heirloom sapphire ring:
Ring views during my press appointment with Amanda Pearl.
Chains, charms, including the Peruvian pink opal acorn drop charm, plus their pink and white rectangular coin pearl hoop earrings:
Above, unique and classic combinations at Amanda Pearl.
The quill bypass ring and molten skull ring, up top. Below, the ripple ring and ripple ring with full pavé and custom molten knot ring with gemstone:
Love is in the air! Designer Amanda Brotman wears two rings on the right hand. Below, a member of the Amanda Pearl team shows off her custom engagement ring.
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I kept my daily looks simple between events, which had a very grounding effect during a boundless week:
Getting some R&R in my custom Lingua Franca sweatshirt (which you can do in cashmere), Madewell jeans, New Balance sneakers and Vogue Runway tote bag.
Later, I headed downtown to Elizabeth Street Garden to attend Libertine’s spring/summer 2025 runway show:
Post-show at the historic Elizabeth Street Garden. Below, Libertine designer Johnson Hartig enjoys a proud moment.
For my garden-show look, I sported my natural Botticelli curls (styled with Davines curl moisturizing mousse) and a flouncy, delicate Wilfred dress, Ferragamo heels (similar ones) plus easy accessories including my sapphire ring, and pendant from Goldstories, Able rings and Kate Spade bag:
The beauty of attending New York Fashion Week is you can actually dress however you like (within reason). I always like my look to complement the event setting.
A few of my favorite runway looks from Libertine SS25:
Models strut toward photographers who snap photos for Vogue Runway. Above, look 1 and 30.
Personally, I am looking forward to seeing more floppy hats and head-to-toe shimmer when spring arrives.
Onlookers and pedestrians pass by the Libertine show at Elizabeth Street Garden.
I hit the streets and got the heck out of Soho, a neighborhood that is fun for about one hour before it becomes way too much (in my humble opinion, of course)! My antidote to “seeking approval” during New York Fashion Week is to keep things simple by diving into a handful of brands or collections that excite me. Who knows? Next season I might shake things up and challenge myself to attend as many shows as possible, like in the good ol’ days. Probably a bad idea, but I suppose we will see.
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With that, thank you so much for being here. It’s been an exhausting few weeks and I can only hope and pray for more peaceful days ahead. Until next week, take it easy on yourself if you have also been feeling a bit burnt out. Virgo season won’t last forever, ha.
Yours Truly,
Kyoko
I am not compensated for the features listed in All-Year Season. My sincerest thank you to Goldstories for supporting the creation of this post.
