As soon as the designers are announced, there's a certain excitement in the air. You know the clothes are going to be fabulous, the food created by celebrity chefs will be delicious, and the star gazing will be fit for the finest pair of binoculars. Some things you can just count on, like these five things that always happen at New York Fashion Week.
- Models Hit the Floor – Literally
You wouldn't be surprised to see a model take a tumble in her debut show. But even though it always happens, it causes an extra gasp when the model is a seasoned pro. Such was the effect when supermodel Karen Elson took a tumble during the Zac Posen show back in 2008. She was the final model and certainly made a lasting impression. She played it off graciously as the gallant rapper Diddy, in true gentlemanly fashion, ran onstage to help her up. - Random Celebrities Show Up
You know that Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian, and Kanye West are going to be among the regulars at the hottest shows during New York Fashion Week. Even sports stars like Venus Williams, Carmelo Anthony, and Victor Cruz are expected sights at the big fashion shows. But you could have knocked the runway over with a tail feather when the Duck Dynasty crew showed up, sitting front row-center at the Sherri Hill collection in 2013. They were in full rural duck-hunting regalia from the bandanas covering their heads, from their ZZ-Top-length beards to their color-coordinated plaid shirts. - One Designer Misses the Mark
There is always a designer who, in the midst of all of the glitz and glamour, throws the fashion world a curve ball. Fashion king Jeremy Scott's ode to sports in early 2014 sent a model flitting down the runway in a dress crafted to look like one long athletic sock. - Someone Streaks
In one show or the other, a surprise interloper always tries to steal the show. Attendees at the 2014 Prabal Gurung collection were ushered into stunned silence by a streaker. He didn't run across the stage to be gone in a flash; he actually inserted himself into the show, costume and all. He calmly strolled along the stage in line with the models. He sported a crown and a leopard thong, both cheeks in full view. - Themes Turn into Mini-Movies
Designers often like to put on their director hats to lay out a whole theatrical performance, and in 2014, DSquared2 did just that. Instead of having the models strut down the stage as usual, they came up with a back story to explain the tropical setting. Hypothetically, James Dean crashed his small plane (the wreckage of which appears onstage) on a lush exotic island. This was just the excuse needed to have the models, in the flimsiest of underwear, showering under the roaring waterfalls.
