New York Fashion Week (NYFW), hosted Sept. 6 to Sept. 14, was a grand event and special in many ways. The Opening Ceremony, curated by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” star Sasha Velour, was a performance with more than 40 models and performers, all of whom identified as LGBTQ. The show ceremony is usually a runway, but the performers just wore the clothes alongside Christina Aguilera, who also performed.

Also, this year marked Ralph Lauren’s 50th anniversary fashion show at NYFW, and Oprah Winfrey helped commemorate this by giving him a toast. Former First Lady Hillary Clinton and Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour were at the table as well when Oprah led the room in raising a glass to honor Lauren.

PYER MOSS:

This collection was destined to be memorable when Kerby Jean-Raymond, creator of Pyer Moss, decided to address racial issues in America and hosted his runway in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Weeksville. Weeksville, founded by African-American man James Weeks in 1838, is one of the country’s first free-black communities. Jean-Raymond’s goal this year was to create a collection that presented the African-American experience without the constant threat of racism. The show started with a gospel choir clad in white robes and ended with a friends and family cookout. Rising artist Derrick Adams was commissioned to do 10 paintings that were woven throughout the collection to help bring Jean-Raymond’s vision to life.

The collection itself featured painterly images of a young black man grilling burgers printed on a simple white T-shirt and a black father lovingly cradling his baby, rendered in glittering beads.

TELFAR:

Telfar Clemens’ collection was already changing the game by making fashion one with music, but the addition of rain pushed it over the top. Along with a 37-look runway, music was provided by Ian Isiah, Selah Marley and Moses Sumney, making the collection fun to look at. This collection included many gender-fluid looks, providing nostalgia through a ‘60s and ‘70’s lens. The color scheme, wide lapels and iconic hairstyles deftly brought Clemens’ vision together. Leather, denim and earthy tones were the staples that held this collection together, along with Telfar’s signature shoulder and thigh cut-outs. There was even a piece that highlighted a pair of bell-bottomed, patch-worked jeans with the Budweiser logo. 

MARC JACOBS:

The designer’s spring and summer collection show was slated to begin at 6 p.m. on the final night of Fashion Week, but wound up starting 90 minutes later. Since Jacobs’ 2007 show started two hours late, the designer made a point of starting on time every year since- until this year. Jacobs has since apologized, and the collection was well worth the wait. At first glance, the collection looks like a mix between the fashion in the capital city in “The Hunger Games” and Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland.” It touched every color in a 64 count pack of Crayola crayons including the pastels and metallics. Not only did the exuberant colors pull the eye, but the push and pull of giant floral ruffles, satin sashes and furry fabrics kept runway alive with energy.