New York Fashion week got off to a snowy start on Thursday with celebrities and the design world’s elite braving a massive storm to watch models strut street-wear and gowns at some of the most important runway shows.
Luxury brand Nicholas K opened the Fall/Winter 2017 shows with a homage to 1990s hip hop. Dozens of models paraded down the catwalk wearing vibrantly colored over-sized pants and big hooped earrings with metallic make up.
Christopher Kunz, who comprises half of the sibling duo behind the street-wear label, said he was surprised to see so many guests show up for his show during the storm, which dumped roughly 14 inches (36 cm) on the city, turning Manhattan into a slippery mess.
His sister, Nicholas Kunz, said they chose a hip hop theme because they felt the 1990s represented communal activism and ethnic diversity, issues that are increasingly relevant after the recent election of US President Donald Trump.
“I think there was some strong messages in the 90’s hip hop era. It was all about communal activism, ethnic diversity, equality,” Kunz said. “We’ve always been about diversity and environmental things. It’s really disheartening to see things going backwards in those two areas for us.”
Several celebrities, including fashion maven Anna Wintour, donned pink pins for the first day of Fashion Week to show their support for Planned Parenthood, which has come under attack from anti-abortion advocates.
Japanese designer Tadashi Shoji, known for his red carpet gowns, said his season’s clothing line was all about inspiring a “love revolution.”
“Any size, any woman, any country. That’s what this show is about,” Shoji told Reuters moments before women wearing tea-length chiffon dresses with long bell sleeves and sheer necklines wowed the crowd.
Shoji, who designed Oscar-nominated Octavia Spencer’s gown at the SAG Awards, also featured many lace dresses in his line.
Meanwhile, in Venice Beach, California, Tommy Hilfiger surprised fashionistas with a Spring 2017 ready-to-wear collection featuring model Gigi Hadid and a performance by Fergie.
The show must go on: New York Fashion Week braves massive storm
The show must go on: New York Fashion Week braves massive storm
From trends to routines — how beauty is evolving in the Gulf region
DUBAI: The beauty landscape in the Gulf is shifting, driven by a new generation of consumers who see skincare, self-care and digital discovery as part of their everyday lives. According to Nicole Nitschke, managing director of FACES Beauty Middle East, the region has moved far beyond simply buying products.
“Beauty in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) has evolved from being product-focused to increasingly experience-driven, with consumers seeking solutions that combine effectiveness, self-care and personalization,” she told Arab News.
Shoppers today may browse online, but many still want to touch, test and experience products in-store, creating what she describes as a balance between digital inspiration and physical retail.
That evolution is being led by Gen Z — those born between the late 1990s and early 2010s. “Gen Z in the GCC is informed, experimental and digitally connected,” Nitschke said. “Social media plays a major role in how young consumers discover and engage with beauty trends, and routines that support both appearance and wellbeing have become especially important to them.”
One of the most powerful trends shaping this generation is the rise of Asian and Korean beauty. Nitschke said: “The success of Korean beauty in the GCC is driven by a convergence of product excellence and innovation, accessible pricing and cultural influence. K-beauty is not just about products; it represents a broader lifestyle movement.”
From K-pop to K-dramas, Korean pop culture has created an aspirational pull that resonates strongly with young consumers in the region. But it is also about results, Nitschke said: “Its products deliver high quality and visible results.”
In the Gulf’s climate, skincare routines have also become more purposeful. “GCC consumers are gravitating toward hydration-focused and barrier-supporting products, including essences, serums, ampoules and lightweight creams,” she said, adding that multi-step routines centered on skin health and self-care are especially popular.
Shoppers in the region are also highly aware of what they are putting on their skin, she says: “They are highly ingredient-conscious, value education and seek guidance that combines expertise with accessibility.”
Looking ahead, Nitschke believes Korean beauty is here to stay: “Korean beauty has become structurally integrated into the GCC market, influencing routines, expectations, and retail offerings.” It is no longer a passing trend, but a permanent part of how beauty is understood in the region.
