New York Fashion Week can be a flurry of over-the-top outfits, and it’s easy to spot plenty of “peacocking” in an attempt to grab the attention of a street style photographer. It’s not uncommon for attendees to meticulously plan their outfits weeks in advance, nor is it uncommon for designers to loan full outfits for influencers, editors, press, and other showgoers to wear. All of this culminates in a parade of looks that, while fabulous, are about as attainable as the latest Prada bag, which is to say, cool to look at but not easy to re-create yourself.
I like to think that editors do things a little differently during NYFW. As experts in shopping, we’ve all come to have a great eye for affordable pieces that still look quite elevated and chic, so it came as no surprise when we all stepped out to attend the shows, presentations, and parties this week, we wore a number of fashion items that clocked in at under $100. To see every affordable item that made it into our fashion-week outfit rotations, how we styled them, and, of course, shop them yourselves, just keep on scrolling.
I didn’t buy many pieces for this fashion week, but I did manage to score this Khaite dress on sale last month and was excited to style it in a similar way to how the brand showed it in its F/W 22 runway, aka with tonal tights and sleek point-toe heels. Calzedonia had me covered with a pair of sheer tights in a coordinating brown. I also reached for these Mary Jane wedges with a cool cutout heel shape. The dress may have been designer, but I think my accessories looked the part too.
When I tell you my DMs were bursting after I posted this quick selfie on my Instagram, I’m not kidding. People were coming out of the woodwork to inquire about these oversize drop earrings, which they were all shocked to find out were a mere $38 and sitting at Anthropologie. I love how the sculptural shape lends a super-elevated feel, and I wore them as my only jewelry that day with a slicked-back bun so they really had their moment.
I spotted so much of this bright cherry red on and off the runways this week. It was fun to participate via this easy-to-wear shoulder bag that popped against my navy outfit. It’s a piece I know I’ll be wearing a lot post–fashion week, too.
“For day two of fashion week, I wore a combination of affordable silver hoops. In my left ear, I wore two of these puffy hoops from Madewell. I love how they hug the lobes. And on the other ear, I wore a Jenny Bird earring that similarly has a puffed-up, tubular look. Our editors are all about Jenny Bird lately, and I get the hype. Its jewelry is affordable, well made, and will be in style for years to come.”
“I used a lot of my existing wardrobe for NYFW. I challenged myself to put together some favorite pieces in ways that I’ve never worn them. Since it was surprisingly good weather in NYC, I got away with utilizing lighter layers for this look. I racked my brain for a unique look that still felt like me, and I landed on using this Standards & Practices slip dress from Nordstrom, an Abercrombie & Fitch oversize button-up, and an Eloquii pinstriped vest. I topped it all off with one of my favorite Reesabobeesa necklaces I bought at Berriez online.”
“I spent days planning out all of my NYFW looks ahead of time so that when I had a 9 a.m. show, I wouldn’t have to fret about it in the morning. Then, on day one, I got this suit in the mail that I got because I was obsessed with the way Zara styled this jacket on Lila Moss in a recent campaign. I went to try it on just to see if it fit and never took it off. I love how elevated and unique both the jacket and the trousers, which have this great foldover waistband, are, and how they appear even more luxe when paired with higher-end accessories, like my new Bottega Veneta bag and gold drop earrings from Jenny Bird.”
“This season, I was determined to figure out how to incorporate red socks into my NYFW looks. I ended up styling them with these trendy metallic slingbacks to ensure they really popped. Up top, I wore a gray sweater and a matching gray full skirt. I felt like the socks really added an element of forwardness to the outfit, and the best part was they were from Amazon.”
“I was skeptical at first to buy this bag because sometimes metallics can look a little cheap IRL. But as I paired it with look after look, it just made each one better. I didn’t buy or borrow anything new for fashion week and was more than happy to bring this $40 Zara bag around. It may not be designer, but it did gain me many compliments and get the job done.”
“Unexpectedly, these ended up being my most-worn sunglasses this New York Fashion Week. I couldn’t convince myself to wear anything else since they went with every outfit perfectly. The subtle cat-eye shape is super flattering, and brown never fails. I’ve had a few pairs of Szade sunglasses for over a year, and the quality will last you a long time.”
“When I first got my hands on this Jean Paul Gaultier top, I knew it was going to be the star of the outfit. However, every star needs a strong supporting cast, and this $40 black miniskirt from Edikted was exactly what I was looking for. It has a lace-up detail on the side of it, making it a little sexier than your average black miniskirt. It was not only super comfortable, but it gained me tons of compliments. I can’t recommend this skirt enough.”
