Asking the Fashion Week Group Chat: What's Everyone Wearing to Shows?
Plus, find out what's in their Prada, Dior, and Chloé bags.
Tiffany Reid is a Who What Wear editor in residence, fashion executive, freelance stylist, and brand consultant who most recently served as the senior vice president of fashion for Bustle Digital Group. She recently launched a YouTube series, Tried + True, in which she walks viewers through the latest trends.
New York Fashion Week is here again, and it feels like it came out of nowhere. Right on cue, my inbox is overflowing, but it’s my fashion group chat that's really lighting up. No one feels entirely ready for it, but here we are! Mix NYFW’s fast-and-furious arrival with the cold NYC weather (for non–New Yorkers, it felt like -16ºF the other day) to create the perfect storm when getting dressed. With that in mind, this season is all about strategy, and my fashion friends have all the best tricks up their sleeves. Think statement coats, smart layering, and comfortable footwear that can actually survive a day of running from show to show. So, I took to the group chat for last-minute inquiries about invites, last-minute outfit changes, and emergency shoe swaps. My findings? An exact guide to what fashion insiders are actually wearing to shows this season.
Keep scrolling to get an inside look.
Inside the Fashion Week Group Chat
What are you wearing?
NYFW street style this season is going to be rooted in quiet luxury, comfort, and ease. The focus is on timeless, real-world dressing that feels personal and lived-in, rather than performative. Less about being photographed and more about feeling like yourself, much like the shift we are seeing with content on social media. With the cold weather fully setting the tone, insiders are leaning into rich textures like suede and leather, classic silhouettes, and wardrobe staples that balance looking effortlessly cool and comfortable.
Emergency shoe swap
Each season, fashion week schedules feel more packed than the last, with shows and events layered back-to-back across the city. The constant movement uptown, downtown, and everywhere in between has shifted priorities toward practicality. We editors are tired. So that leaves us to the common sentiment that functional footwear reigns supreme—without judgement. From modest-heeled boots to simple flats that can handle a full day without compromising the look, it is a drastic shift from the sky-high stilettos we are used to seeing in the streets.
What bag are you carrying?
If there’s one thing this weather hasn’t messed with, it’s the bag situation. We can still have fun here without compromising the look, even if the longer the day gets, the more stuff we’re lugging around. Some people are brave enough to stick with a mini, while others are fully loaded and prepared for anything that comes with the day (i.e., carrying a giant but still chic tote). Either way, fashion girls will always find an excuse to carry their It bag.
And what's inside?
Are you changing for the afters?
One of the best parts of NYFW is running into people you’ve known forever in the industry, and after a full day of packed schedules and business talk, everyone’s ready to loosen up. The after parties and dinners are where it all really happens, especially when they're hosted by the brands that always throw the best parties (you know who). So yes, we’re changing out of these daytime looks, and no, we’re not afraid to show a little skin!
