Back in September, we asked 12 New York City teens to tell us what they were wearing on the first day of school. Their answers about their own style were thoughtful, funny, and surprising—so much so that we decided to ask four of the most fashion-obsessed among them to come back to Man Repeller HQ and weigh in on New York Fashion Week. For good measure, we asked them to come wearing outfits inspired by their favorite runway looks, too. (Their pictures have been taken, once again, by their friend and fellow teen, photographer Olivia Wein.)
Keep reading to see the looks they put together—and find out what they think about the clothes that were sent down the runway.
Okay, let’s talk about your outfits. Which looks did you choose and how did you go about recreating them?
Jian: There were a few looks that I kind of combined into one look. The Coach show in particular had a lot of trenches and layers and sneakers and I like that—I like the juxtaposition of dressy trenches and casual sneakers. The silhouettes were kind of oversized, not very fitted, and that’s how I dress normally so I thought I’d use that as inspiration. The Stanford sweatshirt is actually my grandfather’s. It’s cute and this is my first time wearing it. I just threw it on and I think it looks good with the color of the trench.
Nico: I looked at the Palm Angels show just because I didn’t like a lot of the other ones. Also, I just bought this jacket and the show had a lot of fringe, so I thought that was perfect. And I also had this shirt with all the patchwork on it. So I just kind of figured I’d put it all together. The models were wearing these big diamond necklaces which I thought was cool with the Western theme—like Jian was saying about juxtaposition.
Ellison: So, mine is inspired by the Acne Studios collection that just happened in Paris. Their whole thing this time was using artificial intelligence to laser cut prints and create new flower designs. They used all these beautiful earthy tones and there was this one [beautiful] dress that was paisley—then I found this shirt at Goodwill for $3 last night! I’m wearing the belt because they used different types of textures that just blended so beautifully into one cohesive show. I was really enamored with it. And my Telfar jacket has all these cutouts and you can remove the sleeves. There were a lot of crops with interesting asymmetrical cutouts in the Acne Studio show, so I thought, why not?
Isabella: I looked at the New York Fashion Week Instagram because I wasn’t super up to date with all the shows and I saw there was a show that Bella Hadid did and I really liked, it was more of a floral look. Rodarte! That’s where I saw the dark lip—I don’t normally do that. I wanted to contrast with the last photo shoot we did and do a darker look. I really like the whole power suit look so I decided to wear an all-black suit—this is actually my brother’s so it’s oversized on me—and shoes from this cool brand called Funtasma that are different shades of beige. I just wanted something really bold and striking.
How much attention do you pay to New York Fashion Week normally, scale of 1-10?
Jian: 6
Nico: 7
Ellison: 10
Isabella: 6
You guys mentioned earlier that your interest levels in the runway shows have waned because you’re more interested in street style and attendee style. Who do you look out for?
Jian: I can’t pinpoint one person for sure, but it’s cool to see everyone put their twist on runway pieces that they get sent to wear to the actual show. Bella brought up Bella Hadid, I feel like I always love her style in particular but I don’t pay attention to one person all the time. I love seeing new people and their quirky or new style.
Ellison: I have a few that have stayed with me since the beginning of my style awakening… @Avanope.
Nico: Yeah!
Ellison: I met her when she was working at Opening Ceremony, then she moved to be online creative director at Helmut Lang—I’ve been following the whole MoMA thing, the Gucci thing that she did herself. I love her so much. And then Sami Miró who reworks vintage—her Pyer Moss and Burberry show outfits from September fashion week? Killed me. Also Anaa Saber, Our Second Skin, her stuff is ridiculous, I love her so much.
Nico: For me it’s actually not a lot of female influencers, although I do love Ava and I’ve been following her for a long time. I like following menswear and what they wear to fashion week. I feel like there are specific womenswear trends that I get tired of seeing over and over and I think in menswear it’s more flexible. There’s one guy, Gully Guy Leo—he’s cool.
Ellison: Yesssss! In menswear, I think Rick Owens and Eckhaus Latta and a few of those unisex designers are helping expand on that. For a while, it’s just been jeans and T-shirts and it’s like… I don’t want to wear that shit! I think there’s a lot of places it can go and it’s growing.
Bella: I’d have to look at my Instagram feed. There are so many people I look at but I don’t remember their names. Last night my friend sent me a really cool red look, this girl who had red all over her eyes. There are so many influencers who wear things that are better than what’s in the show.
And last, would love your takes on some of the bigger moments during the week. Let’s look through some photos and you can share your thoughts.
This Christopher John Rogers dress pretty much won Instagram, didn’t it?
[Everyone gasps]
Ellison: Keeping New York New! York! Oh my god. I think he’s one of the people keeping New York’s integrity as a fashion city.
Nico: Yes. It’s beautiful and at the same time it feels structured. It’s just elegant.
Jian: It’s like modern and traditional at the same time.
Bella: I loved the hair so much.
Ellison: It’s all just gorgeous.
Lots of priestly collars were sent down the runway. Thoughts?
Ellison: [ponders] No, thanks.
Nico: Yeah that’s going to be a no for me. I mean, do your thing, but.
Bella: I like the second one more, the peter pan style.
Jian: I actually like the other one. I like that it looks puffy, but I don’t know if it actually is?
Thick socks and open-toe shoes had a moment at Rachel Comey.
Bella: I don’t even need to see it. Yes.
Ellison: Yes and yes.
Nico: I like the thick socks. I’ve been wearing them a lot with loafers, but I don’t know about wearing them with open-toed shoes.
Jian: I like them with a really thin strapped heel, with mostly the sock showing.
Are you into clogs?
Nico: I mean, I’m Dutch, so I’m kind of for clogs [laughs]
Ellison: I think the way he did it was pretty, but I don’t know about regular wear. It crosses over to art.
Nico: Not every day, but….
Jian: That’s how I feel about so much stuff. But it looks really good with the outfits.
There were a lot of mullets at Fashion Week. What do you think?
Ellison: Ooooh, Alyssa in the City!
Nico: I like mullets on girls. I was going to get one when I went to get my hair cut recently, but I chickened out and got layers instead.
Jian: I think they look sexy on girls, but I don’t like them on guys.
Veils were a thing.
All: Yesssss!
Jian: I love that.
Bella: I love that.
Ellison: I’m with that.
Across-the-board “yes” on veils?
Bella: I was going to wear one today!
Ellison: [Conspiratorially] You should have!
Bella: I just couldn’t find one at home that you could see my makeup through.
Photos by Olivia Wein.
