8 New York Fashion Week Essentials I Can't Live Without

After thriving through a whopping 17 seasons of New York Fashion Week, I feel comfortable calling myself something of a veteran. Over the years, I’ve suffered a handful of trials and tribulations when it came to my outfits. And while I could definitely wax poetic on some of my big missteps and worst looks, I’d rather focus on the positive—namely, the non-negotiables that have become my NYFW wardrobe essentials.

Bella Gerard

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

Some are obvious. I don’t even consider a pair of shoes unless they’re walkable, for instance. Similarly, I need handbags that actually fit the things I need to get me through the day—I’m talking portable chargers, tripods, makeup. (You’d be surprised how much I can Mary Poppins into the It Bag of the moment.) Others are more so for aesthetic purposes, like sunglasses that make me look cool when posing for photos or statement jewelry that helps my looks feel more styled-out. During the February shows, a good coat is non-negotiable; to quote a character from former Vogue.com editor Caroline Palmer’s novel, Workhorse, “This is New York City, baby. Your coat is your car!”

With that, read on for the wardrobe essentials I plan my entire fashion week around, plus a few selects I’m eyeing this season.

Sunnies For Street Style Opps

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

When walking up to a show, one is often greeted by a flock of street style photographers. Sometimes, they sprint to get your photo; other times, there’s someone else arriving that absolutely steals the show. Either way, you need to walk confidently into the venue. For me, a pair of chic sunglasses to hide behind makes this a dozen times easier. And in the event that I am stopped for photos, they double as a posing aid.

Pre-NYFW, I always hit up Sunglass Hut to try on some new statement sunnies IRL. (Have you seen these embellished Swarovskis???) If I’m going for something understated, I’ll reach for my black Kennys from Otra. This season, I can already predict more than a few It Girls will show up in 12pm Studios, a newer brand coming from fashion influencer and street-style darling Jeneé Naylor. (Given the setting, perhaps the NYC sunnies will reign supreme?)

Ferragamo

49mm Small Cat Eye Sunglasses

Dezi

Cuffed 53mm Square Sunglasses

Cute Shoes I Can Walk In

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

Unless I’m pre-scheduling a car to take me to and from a particular party (major fashion girl hack, BTW), I need my footwear to be comfortable. During New York Fashion Week, I’ll have upwards of five events per day; I don’t exactly have time to come home and massage my feet in between.

Luckily, brands like Bared Footwear crank out podiatrist-designed shoes that still look stylish, like my go-to booties and these pointy-toed loafers I plan to wear a ton this season. When it comes to heels, I opt for shorter kitten or even block styles opposed to stilettos. And of course, there are always flats: I just nabbed these dreamy cheetah Revas from Tory Burch, and noticed Aerosoles has finally relaunched the chain-detain ballet flats I stash in my tote for impulse-swapping.

Aerosoles

Amina Ballet Flat

Bared Footwear

Ninox Black Leather Loafers

COS

Leather Heeled Mary Jane Shoes

Staud

Joanna Kitten Heel Mule

Dolce Vita

Roxla Boots Olive Croco Embossed Leather

Hair Accessories That Turn Heads

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

For me, personally, hair has become a major element of my NYFW wardrobe. I love to get creative and stalk the internet for unique hair accessories, and then bring them to Steph Angelone, my stylist at NYC salon RPZL, and beg her to make them work. (I’ve even collaborated with RPZL on a few pieces.)

Bella Gerard

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

I highly recommend going the cool hair route if you find your actual attire feels a bit simple. Some of my favorite looks have revolved around a great hair cuff or funky scrunchie. A newer piece for me are these bubble hair brooches I created with RPZL, which I wear in clusters for maximum impact. If that feels too bold, start with something metallic but minimal, like a gorgeous gold french pin.

RPZL

The Bubble Hair Brooches

COS

Charm-Detail Hair Pin

Machete

French Pony Barrette

Clementine Sleepwear

XL Organic Silk Scrunchie

Free People

Surround Sound Crocodile Clip Set

Lele Sadoughi

Oversized Polka Dot Scrunchie

Coats to Function As the Outfit

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

During the February shows in particular, you can totally get away with a “the coat is the outfit” approach to getting dressed. I make sure my outerwear game is always top-notch. In addition to beautiful sleek wool and leather staples, I try to go for bright colors—peep this powder pink number from Khy—and interesting textures, from faux fur to embellished accents.

Bella Gerard

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

While I plan to explore a few cropped bombers this season, I rely primarily on longer silhouettes to keep me covered and chic during fashion’s chilliest week. If you don’t want to splurge on a new coat, add a bold belt or some funky brooches to your everyday fave to give it some freshness.

Tory Burch

Oversized Twill Coat in Green

WeWoreWhat

Women’s Long Faux Fur Jacket

Karen Millen

Wool Embellished Single Breasted Tailored Coat

Zara

ZW Collection Straight Coat With Manteco Wool

Khy

Signature Faux Fur Coat

Simkhai

Rumi Belted Long Coat

Statement Jewelry to Jazz Up Basics

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

Perhaps my biggest sin as a Fashion Girl is that I’m always forgetting to put on jewelry. Other than my engagement ring and wedding band, I often have to leave out a Post-It reminder if I want to wear jewelry with a specific outfit before I leave the house. The only exception to this is fashion week, as I lay out everything in advance and have the accessories placed at the ready.

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

Especially in photos, the glint of a good earring or flash of a sparkly necklace really completes a look.

Over the past few seasons, Jenny Bird has been my unfailing go-to for gorgeous, elevated pieces, and its new Woven Square two-tone earrings are definitely top of the roster for this week. Another accessory I’ve been leaning on as of late are chunky bangles (I have these from Tuckernuck), especially worn over shirt sleeves in stacks of two or three.

Jenny Bird

Medium Woven Square Earrings

Mango

Set of 3 Combined Volume Maxi Bracelets

Dorsey

Odette Earrings in Moissanite

J.Crew

Beaded Chunky Necklace

Swarovski

Aluminum Lucent Mini Hoop Earrings

Versatile Midi Skirts As A Base

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

I’m a midi skirt girl through and through. While I’m locked in on length, I’m flexible when it comes to silhouette. I love a princess-y A-line, or a silky bias cut. A pencil midi feels no-nonsense in a super elevated way, while something flowy and drapey can be as dressy as a full-on gown. (This two-tone green taffeta skirt from Tuckernuck, for example, was a perfect day-to-night piece for me.) Currently, I’ve got this plaid asymmetric skirt from Zara in my cart for daytime, and this sequin midi from Mango on standby for night.

Zara

Asymmetric Plaid Midi Skirt

& Other Stories

Pleated Wool Midi Skirt

Staud

Sonoma Print Drape Chiffon Midi Skirt

Eloquii

Double Belt Wrap Faux Leather Skirt

Big Bags To Hold My Entire Life

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

When I have an assistant with me, you best believe I make the most of carrying around an itty-bitty, fits-absolutely-nothing bag. But most of the time, I’m hopping from runway show to presentation to lunch to private preview all on my own, and I need a bag to fit my laptop, my touch-up kit, a tripod, and who knows what else.

Luckily, big bags are really in right now (as I warned you!), so a massive tote is more of a welcome statement piece than a hindrance. My personal favorite is The Re-Imagined Boat and Tote created by Tibi in collaboration with L.L. Bean; I schlepped it last season, and the photographers loved it. I also loved this massive oversized clutch by Brandon Maxwell that I wore to his tenth anniversary show in September—a runway one-off that I snagged at a sample sale.

Tibi

The Re-Imagined Boat and Tote™

Mansur Gavriel

Soft M Snakeskin Tote

Longchamp

Looong Shoulder Bag

Coach

Alter/Ego Large Tote Bag in Upcrafted Suede

A “Pop Piece” For Every Outfit

(Image credit: Bella Gerard)

When I’m mapping out my fashion week wardrobe, I do my best to ensure every look has what I call a Pop Piece: an item that pops and elevates the look from everyday to extraordinary. Sometimes, it’s a bold handbag. Other times, it’s an unexpected shoe. No matter what, it always ends up being the most complimented element of whatever I’m wearing that day.

Color, texture, shape, and potential for kitschiness go into my decision-making process. I often use fashion rental services like Nuuly, Rent the Runway, and Vivrelle to secure these items, since I may not want to invest heavily in things that I won’t be wearing over and over again. Whether you’re into feathers, fur, sparkles, or brights, this really is a Dealer’s Choice type of item. There’s no wrong way to Pop.