My Take on NYFW F/W ‘23: All Eyes on the Influencers
Image Courtesy: Shutterstock/TimeOut
As an avid consumer of fashion media from the age when I could afford to pay for a Vogue subscription with my first debit card – I have successfully managed to stay up to date on the latest shows and trends. While the shows this season were lovely, I noticed that my reposts on my 'Close Friends' story on Instagram shifted focus toward the outfits of the attendees of the runways and found myself truly captivated by the thematic ensembles they wore to the NYFW events.
Spanning from February 10th through the 15th, Manhattan once again drew fashion lovers to the glamorous realm of pre-parties, store openings, and after-parties with a jam-packed runway schedule thrown in between. Luckily enough for people like me and my grandma, who choose to live vicariously through the Instagram stories and posts of the privileged few, there were plenty of swoon-worthy outfit moments for us to text back and forth about. Here are the influencers that made this season stand out:
Image Courtesies: Getty Images & Elizabeth Morales via Insider
Known for her brightly colored and joyfully loud personality on TikTok, Clara Perlmutter (also known as @tinyjewishgirl across her social media platforms) channeled her inner Lisa Frank at Moschino and explored a more gothic-inspired alter ego as she sat for Wiederhoeft. Her content showcases her unique ability to style her closet – which ranges from her own designs, PR package pieces, and thrift finds. While many self-titled maximalists incorporate a variety of pieces in their looks, Perlmutter boldly pairs whatever she sees fit to live out the image in her head – an impossible feat for many.
Images Courtesies: Getty Images; Avery Y. & Joyce Zhang via Michelle Song.
Instagram fashion blogger Michelle Song’s classic asymmetrical haircut made its appearance once again at New York Fashion Week. With her signature bold, yet classic personal style, she graced the seats of shows including ADEAM, Puppets and Puppets, and Area – which featured some of the most eye-catching looks of this season. Song’s stylings and presence at several in-demand shows certainly make her an influencer to watch for next season.
Ashley Rous, aka @best.dressed (Instagram, YouTube, & TikTok):
Image Courtesies: BFA, Gerardo Somoza/Anna Sui & Darrel Hunter/Harper’s Bazaar.
A former film student who originally found success on YouTube, Anna Rous (also known as @bestdressed) is now making a killing off of Instagram with her 1.6 million followers. Just like the well-known fashion icon Emma Chamberlain, Anna Rous has shifted from lifestyle videos and thrift finds to taking aesthetic photos and providing ample outfit inspiration for her audience. Rous, previously known for her two-toned bleach blonde and black hair, has caught the attention of many for her ineffable abilities as a style chameleon; however, her skill for juxtaposing current trends with period pieces always astounds me.
Of course, when it comes to fashion week, we will always appreciate the designers and fashion houses that are presenting. In the span of fashion week history, however, I have never seen so many well-styled non-traditional celebrities end up on best-dressed lists for the season’s reviews. Whether or not this means that influencers will be all over the runways next season (probably not), it’s still wonderful to see people come into their own through fashion.
Strike Out,
Writer: Isabel Wilder
Editor: Jayna O
Tallahassee