NYFW Review: Designers Stun At Academy Of Art University Fashion Show

By Ashley Weddington

Lights, camera, ACTION! The vibe in the city during New York Fashion Week is a blend of overwhelming excitement, fun, and a little bit of anxiety. This is a time twice-a-year when all of the top and upcoming designers showcase what they've been working on, and all of the fashion bloggers, stylists, and lovers step out in style to flaunt who they're wearing and get a piece of the action.

Related: Photos: New York Fashion Week, Fall 2015

The fashion world is a tight circle, so if you are lucky enough to get into one of the shows take a deep breath and hold on to your heels! Stepping into a venue before a show begins an intense whirlwind of chaos. There are photographers everywhere (professional and amateur), snapping away to capture all of the VIPs, best dressed, and the overall atmosphere of the posh event. Amongst the crowd, people are checking tickets, scanning barcodes, passing out complimentary refreshments, and waiting impatiently in line, all the while trying to keep their composure and look their best. Once everyone is seated and the show is about to start, the lights go dim, silence fills the room and the anticipation grows rapidly. Then, FLASH! The lights come on, the music booms, and the models begin strutting down the runway with their fiercest expressions, gliding like elegant statues that have suddenly come to life.

The experience is incredibly breathtaking. Seeing the designers' visions come to fruition in the form of patterns, textures, and fabrics is every artist and creative mind's dream! I had the pleasure of attending and sitting second row at the Academy of Art University fashion show to debut the Spring 2016 collections and what I witnessed was nothing short of amazing. The show featured eight exceptionally talented student designers whose garments, though very different, all added unique and complimentary elements to the show. The pieces ranged from extremely tailored and structured, to wildly futuristic and avant-garde. I was absolutely blown away by the level of talent and execution that went into crafting such well-made, high fashion ensembles. As the show comes to an end, the models take their final walk and the designer then follows to thank the crowd and take a bow. And that's it. Months and months of preparation, planning, and casting go into a show that lasts for roughly 15 minutes. But that's what fashion week is about – it is a constant cycle of emotions that you live through at every show, until finally you come to the sad realization that it has all come to an end. Once the week is over, reality sets in and dressing up is once again just another every day necessity.

Luckily, if you just can't get enough, other countries like London, Paris, Milan, and Tokyo have their own fashion weeks that extend throughout the rest of the month. For those on a budget, you'll just have to sit tight and wait for the next NYFW to come around next season. In the meantime, you can spend the following months getting that wardrobe ready and catching up on the new trends rolling out. One piece of advice — whether you are personally invited to the shows or not, put on your best 'fit, go out, and experience everything New York Fashion Week has to offer. If nothing else, you are sure to be inspired.