New York Fashion Week struts back with outdoor runways, Gigi Hadid, and a history-making model

New York, New York – New York Fashion Week (NYFW) sashayed back into the Big Apple in style with creative and airy runways, change makers, and stars turning heads.

New collections from Brandon Maxwell (l.), ThreeASFOUR (c.), and Moschino, featuring history-maker Aaron Rose Philip (r.), popped with color during New York Fashion Week.
New collections from Brandon Maxwell (l.), ThreeASFOUR (c.), and Moschino, featuring history-maker Aaron Rose Philip (r.), popped with color during New York Fashion Week.  © Collage: MAGO / ZUMA Wire & Pacific Press Agency & aaron___philip

After 18 months away from traditional in-person fashion shows due to the pandemic, NYFW made a triumphant return from September 7 to 12, and made the landscape of New York its backdrop.

With over 90 designers showcasing their Spring/Summer 2022 collections over the course of six days, many moved their catwalks outdoors, making venues out of rooftops, city parks, gardens, the streets of SoHo, the Empire State Building, the Intrepid, and more. Some events hosted limited capacity and fully vaccinated audiences, while others stuck to audience-free digital live streams and panel presentations that can still be viewed online.

Gigi Hadid, the most in-demand supermodel in the world, exploded back onto the scene just 11 months after giving birth to her first child. Her fellow supermodel sister Bella Hadid was surprisingly absent from the events.

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The new mom had a jam packed schedule, attending the Daily Front Row's Fashion Media Awards on Thursday, and walking in shows for Michael Kors (along with her bestie Kendall Jenner), Brandon Maxwell, Altuzarrra, Tom Ford, Proenza Schouler, and both opening and closing the show for Moschino.

Yet the Moschino show – which featured pastel baby-patterned prints and Hadid chewing on a baby bottle – was epic for a different reason.

On Thursday, Aaron Rose Philip – who is Black, transgender, and physically disabled – became the first model using a wheelchair to walk for a major luxury fashion brand.

"I hope this is the start of more and inspires and empowers more global brands at the same level to truly work towards including and normalizing disabled presences and talents in their showcases," Philip said.

"Disabled people, models and talents matter so much ... Black trans girls and women matter and are beautiful," she added.

The stars came out for NYMF

Designers like Marc Marlon (l.) got creative showcasing their clothing at outdoor rooftop venues. Paris Hilton (r.) walked the runway at The Blonds show, one of the week's final events.
Designers like Marc Marlon (l.) got creative showcasing their clothing at outdoor rooftop venues. Paris Hilton (r.) walked the runway at The Blonds show, one of the week's final events.  © Collage. IMAGO / TheNews2 & Pacific Press Agency

Several brands and models made their NYFW debuts this year.

Model Amelia Hamlin walked at the event for the first time on Wednesday in the Bronx and Banco show, cheered on by mom Lisa Rinna. It came just days after her publicized breakup with Scott Disick over leaked DMs commenting on ex-girlfriend Kourtney Kardashiashian's new steamy romance.

Lots of celebs were in attendance throughout the week, including Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Hudson, Dan Levy, Kate Hudson, and Julianne Moore. Paris Hilton walked in the week's final event, a cabaret club-style show by design house The Blonds.

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Tom Ford's show closed out the week on Sunday at Lincoln Center with sequins and parachute pants galore, as huge star-studded events like the VMAs and Madison Square Garden's 9/11 comedy extravaganza took place across town at the same time.

On Monday night, The Met Gala capped off the most fashionable week since the pandemic halted happenings across the globe.

The city will now hand over the reins to London, which opens its fashion week for the Spring/Summer 2022 season on Thursday, with Milan the following week, and Paris immediately after.

Cover photo: Collage: MAGO / ZUMA Wire & Pacific Press Agency & aaron___philip

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