NYFW—Sick & Uninvited

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I’m currently at work with the illest cold. I feel stuffy yet my nose is running like a faucet. Yes, I once again, have the New York Fashion Week Flu. No it’s not really the flu, thank God, but I am sick. How did this happen? I only attended 2 days worth of Fashion Week. But I was out there in snow, freezing rain and sleet barelegged and bushy tailed. So I guess I brought this on myself. On day one I went with a super warm and luxe turtleneck from & Other Stories, a Tibi Sample Sale skirt find and a leather jacket. Probably not the best for 30 degrees but hell, I would be cabbing it most of the time anyway right?!? I had a hell of a good time seeing friends and getting back into the swing of this fashion thing. I didn’t join in until Day 3 of actual fashion week. I have a regular 9-5 and can’t really afford to take time off to go to shows anymore. My vacation days are reserved for making this year the most epic vacation year of all time for me. So I joined in on Saturday February 10th along with my friend Jen of Comme Coco who came into town for the shows. Although I had about 6 show invites I managed to make it to one show and one show only, Jill Stuart. The show was being held in a business building downtown, directly across the street from Century 21 (Designer Deal Shopping Mecca). But let’s rewind a bit.

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(So here I am, uninvited outside of Paul Andrew)

I did have an invite to the Paul Andrew Shoe FW 17 presentation. After a $22 cab ride there, I was told they were at capacity but were steadily letting people in. It was a huge disappointment. They told me I should have gotten an updated email late the night before saying they had to cut the list back because they were over capacity. Mind you, it was a 3 hour long presentation in a huge loft space. Some times the semantics of Fashion Week can be a bit much. I tried not to be pissed but I was. This is how this shit is and how the world works. Sometimes you’re in and sometimes you’re out, even if you have an invitation. I can’t say that it was a racial thing, I’m not sure if it was or if it wasn’t but the least they could have done is honor my invitation. I tried not to let it get the best of me. I was blown for about half an hour then Jen and I took some outfit photos and headed to Jill Stuart with Nigel in tow who we ran into outside of Paul Andrew. If you haven’t checked it out yet, Nigel wrote an amazing magazine The 25 Most Stylish Black Women in Fashion that dropped in early February before Fashion Week. I, along with some awesome fashion editors, stylists and bloggers made the cut. So make sure to give it a read and find out the brands and designers we fashion folk can’t live without.

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Photography by Jen Jean-Pierre

Tibi Skirt via Sample Sale | & Other Stories Turtleneck | Dezzal Faux Leather Jacket | Derek Lam Heels via Sample Sale | Studio Museum of Harlem Bag | Vivrant Beauty NYC Headwrap

Jill Stuart

Jill Stuart was a great show. It had a very victorian luxe feel to it. Everything was dramatic and grandiose. I loved the outerwear. I also loved running into fellow bloggers Trisha who I hadn’t seen since Paris Fashion Week and finally meeting Ijeoma of Klassy Kinks after stalking her Instastories. I really enjoyed looking at what all the fashionable attendees were wearing. Everyone looked so good! I just love seeing how people put things together. How they layer to keep warm yet look flawless. I’m not naturally great at layering so it’s always nice to get fresh ideas. Really seeing it all makes you reevaluate your closet and gives you this unyielding urge to shop. Which is exactly what happened after we collected our pink gift bags and headed across the street to Century 21. They have a ridiculously good 90% Off Designer Sale going on right now that was down right sickening. Before I knew it, I had a cart stuffed full of Rochas, MGSM and brands I’d never even heard of. Think velvet trousers, perfectly tailored skirts and jackets galore. I literally tried on 30 pieces and only bought a purse. I had to reel in it big time. But if you are in the NYC area, I implore you to go spend some well earned cash on some designer duds. You’d be hard pressed to find anything over $200. I do love the clutch that I bought though, although I stood in like for like 20 minutes to buy it, it was worth it. It reminds me of this bag Joan had on the show Girlfriends. I’d always looked for a sleek, large, leather envelope clutch and to find one for less that $53 was a true Fashion Week blessing. By then Jen and I had gone our separate ways. I was to immersed in shopping the discounted fashions. After my clutch score, I made my way home and was content not to leave the couch.

I spent the rest of the evening online shopping while drinking home made ginger tea with lemon and honey to sooth my Fashion Week Flu. I can tell you that Fashion Week will have you out here spending all your coins and rearranging your closet. By the end of Day 2 (for me) of NYFW, I’d already tossed out half my closet and am now selling it all for next to nothing on my Poshmark closet. I laid on the couch perusing my favorite online shop The Real Real and stalking shoes on Yoox. I then watched the first episode of So Cosmo which follows the inner workings of Cosmopolitan Magazine. I mostly watched for #blackgirlmagic Tiffany Reid though, if we’re keeping it real here. It’s a pretty good show. Some Fashion Shows that I didn’t attend but definitely kept up with were Tibi, Christian Siriano and Jonathan Simkai who all had excellent shows. I’m a through and through Tibi fan, in fact I wore Tibi both days I attended fashion week, thanks to their awesome sample sale a few weeks ago. I love the understated elegance and quirkiness of Tibi. The clothing always has a unique structure and I’m always in the mood for a good Tibi shoe. I love that Christian Siriano embraces women of all sizes and sent a plethora of all different body types down the runway. Not to mention the show took place at The Plaza. I also loved that he mixed high and low pieces in his runway show with affordability being a key in his show this year. I also loved all the #BlackGirlMagic. Like many designers Siriano also took a stance politically with his runway show. Johnathan Simkhai was another designer who had political hints in his show by leaving “Feminist AF” tees on the front row seats. His collection was one of my favorites this season giving me heavy embellishments, strong lines and silhouettes and Spanish style beauty. I love the fact that he included denim too, something women actually wear in the Winter and Fall.

All in all, day one of NYFW for me was pretty standard. Day 2 however was where the most fun was had and the most money spent. Speaking of money well spent, I got so inspired by NYFW I’m ditching half my closet. Go shop my Poshmark Closet. I will be updating it for the next few weeks.

xx

Monroe

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8 Comments

  1. February 14, 2017 / 9:05 pm

    Awww sorry to read about you being sick. I hope you get better! And it sucks that you were univited to the show but hey you look fabulous šŸ™‚ I love the turban!
    Xo,
    Linda
    lamodeexpose.com

    • monroesteele
      Author
      February 14, 2017 / 9:28 pm

      Thanks so much Linda.

      xx
      Monroe

  2. February 15, 2017 / 6:28 am

    You look great, sad to hear about Paul Andrew. I went to Jill Stuart too and spent more time looking at others outfits . I am happy you got great things at the Tibi sale ( Iā€™m the one who wrote you about it on Instagram )

    Thefashionsherlock.com

    • monroesteele
      Author
      February 15, 2017 / 10:12 pm

      Thank you! And yes to letting me know about that Tibi Sale. I appreciate it!

      xx
      Monroe

  3. sahra
    February 15, 2017 / 12:19 pm

    I’m so sorry you aren’t feeling well but I love your headwrap!

    Feel better babe!

    XO Sahra
    Que Sera Sahra

    • monroesteele
      Author
      February 15, 2017 / 10:12 pm

      Thank you love

      xx
      Monroe

  4. August 13, 2017 / 3:28 pm

    Hello Monroe

    Thank you for this post! I am new to the blogging world (my blog cocowithlove.com is approx 1 month old) and I adore your blog! This post gives me the pre-NYFW excitement as I attend my first one this season!

    I just wanted to stop by and tell you that your NYFW posts (and blog as a whole really) is super dope! I can’t wait to read your post about the upcoming one!

    Best,
    Courtenay G

    • monroesteele
      Author
      August 13, 2017 / 7:38 pm

      Thank you so much Courtenay,
      I appreciate you reading and for your kind words!

      xx
      Monroe

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