Street style at New York Fashion Week offered four ideas worth copying: a hit of purple, painterly florals, a scarf tied as a sash and tailoring with one small piece of jewelry. Each gets its own set of pieces here. None of them require a full wardrobe change.
New York Fashion Week Street Style, Four Takeaways
What Stood Out Outside the Shows
Outside the shows in New York, purple kept turning up, florals had a painterly, chinoiserie feel, and fringed scarves were being tied around the waist like a cummerbund. Those are easy ideas to borrow. Rick Owens DRKSHDW's grape zip-up cardigan, Camilla's pink embellished floral mini, McQueen's green printed silk scarf and Lizzie Fortunato's beaded leather Piedra necklace cover all four.
A Pop of Purple
Purple works best as one strong piece against charcoal and black. Bao Bao Issey Miyake's grape Prism crossbody or Chloé's purple crocheted top brings the colour, High Sport's charcoal ribbed pants keep it grounded, and Roger Vivier's black Belle Vivier pumps finish it neatly.
Painterly Florals
The florals that stood out looked closer to paintings than prints. Erdem's navy floral-embroidered satin midi skirt and Dôen's cream shirred silk shirt make a soft pairing, while Andres Otalora's red Un Martini chiffon maxi is the bolder route. Alaïa's burgundy mesh ballet flats work with either.
The Scarf as a Sash
Tying a fringed scarf around the waist was one of the week's simplest tricks. Dries Van Noten's fringed floral scarf and Saint Laurent's dark green Cassandre silk scarf both work, cinched over Suzie Kondi's white cropped poplin blouse and La DoubleJ's black floral silk palazzo pants.
Tailoring With a Little Jewelry
One small piece of jewelry was often the only decoration on a tailored look. Blazé Milano's beige checked Saona Charmer blazer and Staud's brown striped cashmere turtleneck make a quiet base for Vivienne Westwood's Petra earrings or Jia Jia's turquoise chalcedony bracelet.
Our honest take
Street style is at its most useful when you ignore the logos and look at the tricks. If you take one thing away, let it be the scarf around the waist: it works with a scarf you already own, and it changes the shape of a plain shirt and trousers instantly. Purple is the next easiest, as long as it is one piece rather than a whole outfit. We would skip copying the full show-day look, which is built for cameras rather than for a normal Tuesday. A floral skirt with a plain knit, or a good blazer with one piece of jewelry, will get far more wear.
