New York Fashion Week: Budget Fashion on the Runway

Anna Wintour and Serena Williams pose at the MBFW Spring/Summer 2015 Signature by Serena Williams fashion show on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2014, in New York. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)

Budget Fashion is now part of New York Fashion Week. Anna Wintour goes to a show to see a collection sponsored by HSN (the Home Shopping Network), HSN shows off their new Fall  “Fashion Edit” collections, ELLE Editor Joe Zee joins with Old Navy for a fashion presentation,  Kohl’s shows their ELLE Collection, Target throws a preview party for Altuzarra for Target and a Chinese Laundry shows off their new collaboration with actress Kristen Bell.   What’s happening to New York Fashion Week?  Clearly, the democratization of American fashion is coming full circle with many mass retailers showing their lines along with the high-end designers. 

A model shows off a White Jumpsuit at Old Navy’s New York Fashion Week Presentation. (photo Heather Petrey)

What’s up with all the discount retailers converging on Fashion Week? Like the established designers, they now know it’s a opportunity to reach consumers via the press and social media to show off their offerings.   Offerings that retail for considerably less than the offerings from designers showing at Lincoln Center.  Instead of focusing on couture, Joe Zee is now singing the praises of a $30.00 sweater at Old Navy, khakis and denim.  Celebrities like Katie Holmes (of fashion line Holmes & Yang) attended the show to see what Old Navy is showing.

Kohl’s ELLE line was inspired by Paris (image via Kohl’s)

Kohl’s ELLE line showed off a “limited edition runway collection” at the STYLE360 show on Sept. 10 at New York Fashion Week.   The collection is now on sale at Kohl’s stores and online.   According to Kohl’s the ELLE Runway Collection is designed ‘to bring Paris glam to every day.”

ELLE Limited Edition Runway Collection quilted crop top, organza blouse and ankle pants

Other highlights of the ELLE for Kohl’s Runway collection included a Floral Faux-Leather Motorcycle Jacket and a Striped Organza Fit & Flare Dress both now on sale at Kohls.com for under $60.00.

Fashion expert Hal Rubenstein showed off his HSN line of apparel, accessories & handbags. (Getty Images.)

Not to be outdone by other budget retailers, HSN made a substantial investment in New York Fashion Week  by renting out a suite at the Empire Hotel to show off collections from Giuliana Rancic, Iris Apfel, June Ambrose, Julie Macklowe, Tina Craig (BagSnob’s Snob Essentials Handbag) , Hal Rubenstein and Kelly Osbourne.

Model Denise Bidot walks the runway at the Serena Williams Signature Statement by HSN fashion show in New York City. (Source: Albert Urso/Getty Images

Serena Williams showed her casual chic  HSN Signature Collection on the runway.  The collection featured everything from little black dresses , faux leather leggings, casual wear and faux fur trimmed jackets. You can actually watch the entire runway show on HSN’s website. 

As the high-fashion and high-street lines continue to blur, I expect we’ll see many more mass market retail collections on the New York runways in the future using the same fashion week formula as the shows at Lincoln Center.  All that’s missing now is Walmart! Opps did I say that? I shouldn’t even put that out into the fashion universe.  But wouldn’t you love to see Anna Wintour and Grace Coddington sitting front row for a Walmart fashion show?  Is that a budget fashion dream or a nightmare?