Whoohoo did Day 4 start early!  This was perhaps our most exhausting day of NYFW because we began at 9:00am and didn’t finish our shows until after 9:00pm.  The great news is it was a day jam packed with fabulous fashion.

Day 4’s OOTD was probably the one I was most excited about (although Day 2’s Balenciaga jacket was pretty great).  I recently discovered designer Tiko Paksa and immediately feel in love with her edgy mix of masculine and feminine vibes.  Check out her Instagram for some next level inspiration.  I really debated on which piece of hers to acquire for the S/S18 shows, but landed on this oversized plaid blazer.  With a bit of a Prince flair and her modern interpretation of suiting, it’s a piece that made me smile and cackle with sartorial delight when I put it on.

My vision for what to wear with it went totally out the window thanks to the cooler fall weather in New York, so as much as I didn’t plan on repeating my handbag and boots, I still love the way it came together.

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Francesca Liberatore
When you’re on the calendar for 9:00am you’re already facing a tough crowd, but Francesca Liberatore delivered from the first look.  She opened with flowing peasant dresses and quickly shifted the mood to a confident, sexy beauty with power suits, sheer lace and sweetheart bandeau tops.  The overall theme always retained a beautiful softness with looks strategically placed throughout the collection to make you raise an eyebrow.  It was exactly the level of juxtaposition I long to see in fashion; a delicate balance very few designers have the finesse to strike.

While I was very lucky to be sitting front row, I didn’t get one good photo!  As someone who’s been elbowed, hit in the head by a camera and had to deal with another person’s armpit in my face at past shows, I’m really conservative about my in-show photo taking.  Unless I was willing to lean halfway into the runway for better light, it just wasn’t happening.  Please do take a look at this amazing collection via the recorded live stream.  I promise you won’t be disappointed.  I’ve got my eye on that yellow lace number!

LaQuan Smith
You may know LaQuan Smith by name.  Can’t figure out why?  He’s dressed Beyonce.  And Jennifer Lopez.  He makes rockstar clothes for personalities that can handle them.  In other words, these aren’t clothes for the faint of heart.  You’ve got to have the moxie to match.

Smith held his show at a rather unusual location… a high school gymnasium.  But it totally worked.  Brooklyn Tech’s Lady Dragons opened the show with a step routine adorned in head-to-toe black sweats (I’m still singing their cheer).  Models wore killer thigh high boots with the slide slit skirts to match, accented in plaid, camo and crystal-encrusted fishnet.  Men sported crop tops and glittering track suits.  Smith has a very devoted fan base, and they loved it all.

Leanne Marshall
Ahh, Leannnnnne Marshallllll.  Just saying her name evokes the feeling of frolicking through a meadow of wild lavender, birds chirping and carrying spools of ribbon a la Cinderella while fireflies dance in the background.  The woman is romantic and extreme elegance is what she delivers.  I always adore this show.  It’s truly one I look forward to each season (secretly more so than the others).  Sticking to her signature draping skills, she created some showstoppers for S/S18.  Look 28, her flamingo pink gown with billowing bubble sleeves, literally took my breath away.  This season she stepped outside the box with a modern poster print and more extreme cutouts than I’ve seen in seasons past.

The best part of the show is always the finale.  A master colorist, the rainbow of hues floating down the runway in succession is like watching a Van Gogh come to life.  I mean, look at this!

Jarel Zhang
All of the lights were dim as I walked into our final show of the day.  Construction cones, caution signs and flashing hazard lights illuminated the space.  For S/S18 Jarel Zhang created a monster weather-proof collection.  Each look was created to face the elements – rain jackets, trench coats and separates were sent down the runway in a myriad of colors that ended in charcoal, black and ink.  Lace-up detailing, ruffles and oversized pockets took his pieces from average performance wear to f-a-s-h-i-o-n.  I really enjoyed the candy colored lineup and the fact that he paired each look with Converse high tops (sometimes incased in rain boots).

After the show I went out for a late dinner with 10 blogger friends.  We swapped stories about our favorite collections, what we’ve learned and how the picture was different for those experiencing NYFW for the first time compared to the veterans.  While the majority of the stories were very positive, I did have some friends who experienced the wrath of fashion mean girls.

I’d like to take a minute to address this because it’s sadly something I’m hearing about more and more.  To the girls who feel the need to cut other people down to make themselves feel better: stop it.  Just stop.  There is room for everyone in this space and your negativity brings the whole industry down.  Just because someone doesn’t have as many followers as you or didn’t get into the best shows like you or can’t afford designer pieces like you, DOES NOT make them less than.  And shame on you for making them feel that way.  We ALL start somewhere and no one’s growth trajectory is the same.

So please.  Be nice.  Practice kindness.  Lift each other up, don’t cut each other down.  We are better than that.