NYFW BACKSTAGE 2025 EXPERIENCE – A RAW DIARY OF CHAOS AND CREATIVITY

I have had a week... a fashion week, that is.I am someone who went to school for fashion but has a job now, in an office, but still technically fashion so I am thrilled by it all yet jaded at the same time.

FASHION WEEK ISN’T JUST A CALENDAR EVENT – IT’S A TEST.

This September, I was determined to have a good fashion week. My birthday fell during it this year, as well as a vacation my parents were taking that I was invited to. I know that fashion week is a time to network, dress up, and view the hard work of many people, not a time to be missed. Knowing all of this and also not having vacation days to spend, I had to stay in New York and find events to attend and people to meet. The pressure to make fashion week worth my while was on.

Getting Inside, Not Paying for Access

There are shows open to the public that one can pay to attend, but after obtaining an expensive fashion degree, I am far too stubborn to partake in the tomfoolery of paying for a show I should be participating in.

One way of participating is being a dresser backstage, which I have done a handful of times before. As soon as the CFDA put out the schedule for NYFW, I checked whose shows were on the weekend or after work and emailed every contact I had saved from “interns wanted” posts. Luckily for me, a label responded saying they wanted my help for their upcoming show. I had dressed for them last September, one week after I moved to New York. They did not respond last NYFW in February, so I did not have much hope. But we were back!

Pre-Fashion Week Energy

In the year since moving to New York, I had managed to make a few friends involved in fashion, whom I share event details with. My fashion week actually started a week early, beginning on a Thursday. In Chelsea, Thursday evenings are when the art galleries have opening receptions. That week, the galleries had reopened after their summer break, so I went gallery hopping before meeting my friends. Everyone was out and about, excited to be in Chelsea after a summer off. We then made our way uptown to the Valentino store for a music listening event. There, we mostly inspected the clothes and chatted. It was a chill start to pre-fashion week.

NEW YORK NEVER WARMS UP QUIETLY – EVEN PRE-FASHION WEEK FEELS LIKE A RUNWAY.

Harley De Oliveira – Upcycling as Statement

One of my friends invited us to a fashion show of sustainable looks that Sunday, by the designer Harley De Oliveira.

UPCYCLED COUTURE ISN’T TREND – IT’S PROVOCATION.

I put on the shirt I made from old tee shirt scraps and met my friends in the Lower East Side. The models slowly came out in their looks, posing exhibition style next to stations that displayed the inspiration for each outfit. The crowd felt like a mass, parting and gathering based on the actions of the model spotlighted. The looks were campy, artful, and fun.

Some garments were made from upcycling materials not at all associated with fabric, such as drink koozies and tea bags. My personal favorite was the red and black look made using vintage buttons which reminded me of ladybug spots.

Twink Next Door – Fashion as Chaos Theory

Tuesday, I was invited to go to the fashion show of Twink Next Door in the basement of a BBQ restaurant in Chelsea.

WHEN FASHION HITS THE BASEMENT, EXPECT MADNESS.

The guest dress code was “your most outrageous”, but most of my special occasion garments are at my parents’ house, so I wore one of the car dresses I made and tried to style it like a Fashion Model Barbie. I clobbered my way through my neighborhood to the subway in heels that I haven’t worn in a long time. I made it to the outside of the restaurant and realized where I felt like a clown anywhere else, I fit in as people were dressed even wackier than I felt. We waited outside for an uncomfortable while, as I was separated from my friends.

SHOW OR PARTY? IN NEW YORK, THE LINE IS ALWAYS BLURRED.

Inside and to my relief, my friend working the event sat next to me for the main show, which consisted of looks also incorporating upcycled materials turned into Americana inspired garments. Girls in pasties and corsets made of pool floats served the audience members fried chicken (on that note, burlesque is so going to be in next year). It was a spectacle and a sight to behold. The show itself felt like a party, with the audience cheering as each model performed rather than just walked. Waiters dashed across the catwalk to serve drinks. It was as chaotic as the clothes, which were unconventional and absolutely brought to life in that perfect setting. For his bow, Twink darted out enrobed in plastic Hustler bags.

From Athleisure to Backstage Rush

Saturday, my friend, Apple, had a pilates event in the park where she was selling products for her athleisure brand, Aapple Athletics.

Her products are colorful and patterned, really standing out amongst the unassuming workout gear of other brands. A workout event was such a cool and fresh way of showing off her garments, where people also got to see them in use in everyday life.

Sunday was the day of the fashion show on the official NYFW calendar. I wore my polka dot shirt, feeling silly and questioning my decision until I got backstage and saw polka dots were part of the collection. After dressing at many shows, I know backstage helpers are usually asked to wear black. I offered to help in any way I could, but this brand was very organized and did not need me until it was time to dress. I waited in a trance as my model got her hair and makeup done, standing and watching the flurry of people prepping and checking everything and anything leading up to showtime.

At my job, I have to do color trend research and I noticed that this collection featured three of the projected trend colors for 2026: bright yellow, electric purple, and teal. Personally, those colors sound bizarre to me, but this designer used them in tints which made them pleasing to the eye and quite fitting for their eveningwear designs. BACKSTAGE IS WHERE THE REAL SHOW BEGINS.

The Adrenaline of the Show

One model put on her gown for photos and was shaking her flowy skirt while

waiting, and I so badly wanted to shake my polka dot skirt with her but she was called before I could. We have fun sometimes. When it was time to dress, we did a badly done rehearsal run before we got it together. We had one chance to learn from our mistakes, reorganize, then get it done for the actual show. Working together with a new plan, we successfully pulled off the presentation without a hitch.

After the cheering and photos, it was then clean up time, and I managed to accidentally stay longer than any of the show volunteers. I was enjoying it too much, feeling the rush like I was back in college, working diligently to show something fabulous. I miss it all. So I took it in, this is what I wanted, and I am here now, doing it, even if I am just a volunteer and just for a day.

The Takeaway

I would say this fashion week was a success for me. I got to dress up, meet new people, and spend it with my friends. The clothes were thought provoking and inspiring, as well as the presentations themselves. Personally, I could have improved my experience by talking to more people since the events draw in crowds who are similar to me, who share a love for fashion.

Though my main takeaway, above all, is that I want to make more clothes. I look forward to the next one and the journey in between.

MY MAIN TAKEAWAY? I DON’T JUST WANT TO WATCH FASHION. I WANT TO MAKE IT.