NYFW SS18 Recap

I can hardly believe it’s been two weeks since I returned from New York Fashion Week! I finally found the time and energy to sit down and write this recap post.

My fiancé, Colton, and I ventured to the Big Apple for my second season at NYFW. I spent months preparing for the trip and those four days in NYC were gone in a flash. When I wasn’t snapping photos with my fellow bloggers or standing in the never ending lines to shows, Colton and I explored, shopped, and ate our way through the city. Our feet wanted to murder us by the end of the trip, but it was so worth it!

Scroll down to see the shows I attended, where we ate, where we shopped, and what we did during NYFW SS18!

What Shows I Attended

For the Spring/Summer 2018 season, I was invited to four shows and one presentation: Runa Ray and the Banana Republic x Olivia Palermo presentation on Saturday, and Dan Liu, Leanne Marshall, and Jarel Zhang on Sunday. Thanks to the immense crowds attempting to squeeze their way into every single show, I missed Dan Liu and Leanne Marshall. I then skipped Jarel Zhang to have a romantic dinner with Colton. It was totally worth it, in case you’re wondering.

Runa Ray

Runa Ray’s SS18 collection was stunning. She incorporated pressed plants and flowers into her designs to create the new classic in spring florals. Below are my favorite looks from the collection, as well as my video of the finale.

Banana Republic x Oliva Palermo

Socialite, model, and designer Olivia Palermo collaborated with Banana Republic to bring another spectacular Fall collection to the store. The designs are filled with nods to military style and unbuttoned sophistication. The presentation was held inside the 5th Ave store with a sneak peak on an elaborate stage outside on the street.

The scene outside the store was absolute chaos. Onlookers spilled into the street to photograph the models on the raised stage while cars attempted to dangerously maneuver through the mass. An entire tour bus of photographers was parked across the street to get the best shots of Olivia with her designs. And then, of course, there were the animal rights activists who stormed through the crowd, causing Olivia to flee and security to step in. Fashion, right?

The public line to get into the store to see and shop the collection stretched around the corner and down the block. Colton and I looked at each other and said, “Nope!” I snapped a few photos of the models outside the store and we went on our merry way. It wasn’t until after we had walked away that we found out there was a media entrance to the store with a slightlyyy shorter line. Lauren of Lments of Style (side note: she’s also Colton’s cousin!) was able to make it into the store in that line right as the models and Olivia were wrapping up a mini show.

Style Collective Party

Colton and I popped into the Style Collective NYFW party on Friday night. We were fresh off the plane from Atlanta and we were exhausted! But I’m so glad we managed to make it to the party, as late as we were! Meeting bloggers in person who I’ve followed for years is like meeting an old friend for the first time. It’s both awkward and amazing! I met for the first time Lesia of Lesia Style, Victoria of A Gallon of Glitter, Jessica of Petite Style Script, and April of The Blue Hydrangeas. Everyone was just as nice as I imagined they would be! Thanks to Annie Spano, the amazing founder of Style Collective, for hosting the fun soiree!

If you’re interested in learning more about joining the Style Collective sisterhood, stay tuned! A post in the works.

Where We Ate

Blackwell’s Restaurant & Pub

My recommendation: Mac n Cheese

Colton’s recommendation: Chicken Nachos and any of the burgers

On our first trip to NYC in February for NYFW FW17, Colton and I discovered and Irish pub in Midtown called Blackwell’s. We ate at Blackwell’s both nights of our February trip, including after Colton proposed. We vowed to return for the delicious food and cozy atmosphere.

You can imagine our delight when we made our triumphant return to Blackwell’s and it was just as amazing as we remembered. By the way, the bartenders are Irish.

121 Fulton

My recommendation: Truffle Mac and Cheese (can you tell I love mac and cheese?)

Colton’s recommendation: The Fulton Burger with Truffle Parmesan Fries

We stumbled upon 121 Fulton on our last night in the city. Our feet were aching and I was too exhausted to attend my final show of the week.

Our hotel faced the back of the restaurant in the Financial District in between Wall Street and the One World Trade Center. The vibe is upscale sports bar and the food is delicious. Truffle everything.

Where I Shopped

Manolo Blahnik

Oh yes I did. The NYC Manolo Blahnik boutique has been on my bucket list for ages thanks to Carrie Bradshaw’s shoe obsession on Sex and the City. We stumbled upon the boutique by accident as we turned off of 5th Ave to hail an Uber. We were walking away from the chaos and all of a sudden, it was there. Manolo’s in all their glory.

I knew from the moment Colton proposed that my wedding shoes would be the blue Manolo Hangisi. Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic shoe. I just wasn’t sure if I wanted to buy them on this particular trip. Well, fate decided for me when it steered me right to Manolo’s front door.

The security guard let us in and we marveled at the beauty before us. We walked around, Colton stepped on a shoe (but didn’t break it), and I drooled. I finally tried on the Hangisi’s and sparks flew. Fate.

PS: I took all of these photos before I tried on the shoes. As I was giving them a test walk around the store, a group of women entered with their cameras out, snapping away. The sales associate told them (politely) photos weren’t allowed inside the boutique. So, whoops!

Henri Bendel

I’ve long been a Bendel Girl so shopping at their flagship on 5th Ave is always on my list of musts. The two-story paradise has everything a Bendel Girl needs, including a corner for pet accessories! I purchased the Rivington Convertible Tote in blue. It was love at first sight!

What I Did

Photoshoot with Evergreen Photos

I met up with my longtime Instagram friend Megan of Evergreen Photography for a street style photoshoot on Saturday evening! We tried to coordinate a shoot during February Fashion Week, but the blizzard that hit New York had other plans for us! We finally connected this time around and it was the highlight of our trip. Megan was beyond easy to work with. She told me to move and pose the way I normally do during a photoshoot and she could simply capture it. We shot the two outfits I wore to the NYFW shows so keep an eye out for those two posts next week! Meanwhile, the two above sneak peaks will have to tide you over.

Megan, Dan, Colton, and me in Rockefeller Plaza

Top of the Rock

For anyone who doesn’t know, Colton proposed to me in February at the top of the Empire State Building. Read the full proposal story here. Needless to say, it was one of the best moments of my life! I knew I wanted photos done of us overlooking the iconic building. I asked Megan if she would do us the honor of taking those photos… and she said yes! (See what I did there?)

Megan and her sweet husband Dan accompanied us to Top of the Rock to take in the skyline and shoot a few photos. The entire view is breathtaking! Above the chaos of the streets below, the city seems so small.

Times Square

Even though we passed through Times Square in multiple Uber cars in February, Colton and I never actually made it on foot to the mecca of lights and advertisement. After wrapping my shoot with Megan, we bought pretzels from a food truck in Rockefeller Plaza and walked our way to Times Square. It was breathtaking! There was so much to see that I just had to stand there and take it all in. We wound our way through the crowd and popped into the Disney Store, H&M, and Forever 21.