Pinch me moments: NYFW recap volume 3!

I’m officially done NYFW!

Although I did have some invites for later this week, truthfully, having done this for a week now, I’m ready to get back into my normal routine (and spend more time with Ziggy lol). This week started off with a bang when I got to go backstage with Kiss at Alice + Olivia.

The Alice + Olivia presentation is pretty tough to get into, so when I was given the opportunity to not only go to this presentation, but also go backstage, it was definitely a pinch me moment.

Monday morning started off at the Highline Studios where I got to learn about the nail designs from Kiss for the Alice + Olivia presentation. Kiss has been doing A+O’s nails for multiple seasons now (they also do Rebecca Minkoff) and for this season Kiss brand ambassador Gina Edwards did a stunning black press on nail with lots of embellishments.

Kiss nails sheet at Alice + Olivia Kiss nails sheet at Alice + Olivia Clothes backstage at Alice + Olivia Model sheet at Alice + Olivia Model's hair at Alice + Olivia Model at Alice + Olivia Kiss press-on nails at Alice + Olivia Model sheet at Alice + Olivia

There were two different nail designs that they put on the models. The first one was from their new Couture Collection, which features bejeweled nails with premium crystals, rhinestones and pearls. The second design was the Salon Color nails in Witchy, which was actually from their Halloween collection, which Edwards filed down and then put on embellishments from their 3D Luxe Accents nail art.

Aside from the nails, which were stunning, they also put gem details in some of the model’s hair (Tresemme did the hair and Maybelline did the makeup). Truthfully, all the beauty details were glittery (the eyes featured green glitter), and everything about the models was totally up my alley (there is never enough glitter).

Since the Alice + Olivia presentation started at 1 p.m., we made our walk over to The Highline  Hotel for backstage with Bumble and bumble at ADEAM. The ADEAM FW20 collection was inspired by Kemari, a traditional Japanese football game that was popular in the Heian Period (794-1185 CE).

Model at Adeam NYFW FW20 Model sheet at Adeam NYFW FW20 Model at Adeam NYFW FW20 Model at Adeam NYFW FW20 Headbands at Adeam NYFW FW20 Low ponytail on model at Adeam NYFW FW20 Model at Adeam NYFW FW20 Model at Adeam NYFW FW20

This collection was actually designed with Naomi Osaka, an international tennis star. For the hair, Bumble and bumble took inspiration from tennis and did a loose, undone ponytail with a headband. The headband was either embellished with pearls or featured the brand’s name in a sporty motif.

Some of the star products that the hair team used was Bumble and bumble Prep Primer and Surf Infusion spray. Depending on the texture of the hair, they let it either hair dry or used a diffuser, especially on the Asian models to create movement in the hair.

We were very fortunate to actually see this show and watch the models in action to see how the hair complemented the clothes. The styles incorporated traditional Japanese elements as seen in origami-like drapes in the silhouette of the clothes. Aside from flowy pieces, there was also some stunning suits and biker sports to play into the sports theme.

Adeam NYFW FW20 Adeam NYFW FW20 Adeam NYFW FW20

After Adeam, we went back to the Highline Studios for the Alice + Olivia presentation.  The presentation featured whimsical displays that transported you out of the rainy NYC weather and into a brightly-lit dreamland.

I got to see some of the pieces at the backstage event earlier in the morning and it was so nice to see them on the models.  Seriously you guys, this whole collection was so dreamy.

The presentation was divided into a series of vignettes and ranged from a lush green landscape to inside the Orient Express. The collection was apparently inspired by Stacey Bendet’s recent move to the Dakota building, which was featured heavily in Rosemary’s Baby as well as being the building that John Lennon was shot in front of.

The clothes themselves were such a dream with lots of leather, paisley, greens, camo, mustards, and lace. It was truly so exciting to see this presentation come to life and everything from the clothes to the nails, makeup, hair, and sets was jaw dropping.

Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Kiss nails Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation Alice + Olivia NYFW FW20 presentation

On Tuesday, my day started off with a visit to The Studio at Tractenberg, which is a gifting suite that Tractenberg & Co. holds a few times a year. I had visited this last NYFW in September and loved seeing the beauty products that were coming out from multiple brands in the coming months.

Since Valentine’s Day is this Friday, a lot of the brands revolved their releases around a V-Day theme.  The first station I went to was Hairdo, which is a hair extension company.  You guys know I already have extensions, but I was gifted their hair halo, which is something I actually saw like three years ago in the Philippines. These extensions work by a clear cord that you apply to your head similar to a headband. You don’t see the elastic part and you tuck your hair over the top part of it so it blends effortlessly.  Although I already have extensions, I’m looking forward to trying this out for even more volume, which will be perfect for a date night or even to wear on Valentine’s Day.

The Studio at Tractenberg The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 Hairdo at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 John Frieda at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 PUR Minerals at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 Tocca at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 DryBar products at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 Korres Greek Yogurt products at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20 Color Street at The Studio at Tractenberg NYFW FW20

Next up, PUR Minerals was giving out their new Blushing Act Skin Perfecting Powders, which is a blush that is infused with a nourishing formula that gives you a natural-looking flush of colour.  This blush is available in two shades, Pretty in Peach and Berry Beautiful.

Other brands that were showing off new products was Korres, John Frieda, DryBar, Lavanila (a new probiotic deodorant sold exclusively at Target), Color Street, Biore, Australian Glow tanner (so excited to try this!), Burt’s Bees, and more.

A little later in the day I made my way to Spring Studios for Cynthia Rowley’s FW20 show. I went to her show last season as well and loved the designs. Her show last season was held in a back alley, so I was kind of surprised that they chose to hold it at Spring Studios. I chose to get there a little closer to the 4 p.m. showtime since the shows never start on time and it ended up being a bad idea since there were way too many people (they definitely over-invited the show). I stood in line for about 40 minutes before being told by others in line that the show had already started.

Backstage at Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW Backstage at Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW with Bumble and bumble Backstage at Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW with Bumble and bumble Backstage at Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW with Bumble and bumble

My friend Robin was at the show (front row!) and she ended up telling me all about it later on when I met up with her backstage at Christian Cowan. For Cowan’s FW20 collection, Bumble and bumble did a French twist into a ponytail leaving the front pieces out.  They also put gel on the sides to make the look more sleek, leaving the front part unpolished. The hairstylists used Bumble and bumble Thickening Spray to prep the hair, as well as the Does It All texture hairspray, and a little bit of Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hairspray.

Afterwards, we were so lucky to be able to see the show since it was truly incredible. When you walked into the space it was definitely more of a street vibe and once the models came out, each design was more jaw-dropping than the next.  There was lot of animal print, sparkle, purples, greens, big shoulders, metallic fabrics… truthfully each design that came out was more incredible that the next.

Now that I’m officially done my second season I am sitting here in a place of gratitude. To be able to see and do the things I do to experience was truly a dream come true.  As I mentioned in my first post this season, coming into this I was trying to be more selective in the things I wanted to see and do since it really does take up a lot of your time and it gets exhausting really quickly.

Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW Christian Cowan FW20 at NYFW

To be able to go backstage at Self Portrait, Jonathan Cohen, ADEAM, Christian Cowan, and Alice + Olivia was truly something so special, and there was a moment last night when we walked into Christian Cowan and we went through the backstage to go to our seats that I thought to myself, “wow, I’m so lucky to be able to do this”. The shows that I got to see are tough ones to get into and the fact that I not only got to see them, but go backstage and see the process of what goes into them and meet the models, stylists, and see the clothes up close was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Will I do NYFW again? I mean never say never. I’m very lucky that my boyfriend lives in New York so it was a no brainer to do it because I have a place to stay, but if these were my two seasons and I never do it again, at least I went out with a bang.

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