Fashion’s Favorite Runway: The New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is a place to enrich the mind, so naturally fashion designers have flocked to the 126 year old institution to exhibit their collections.
As records from the New York Public Library explain, while the idea of a fashion week is often credited as a creation of the 1940s, the notion of the runway concept has much earlier origins in the U.S. During the First World War, New York decided the show must go on when Edna Woolman Chase, the editor-in-chief at Vogue at the time, promptly decided to throw a fashion fête to showcase collections and create revenue. And while the concept of the runway has evolved to great heights in the past century, fashion and history seem to have an enduring love affair, making it only natural that modern designers want to pay homage to instituations such as the New York Public Library, established on this day in 1895. On the NYPL’s 126th birthday, take a look back at the times when the library and its glorious architecture has acted as a versatile host to various designers and styles.
Isaac Mizrahi Fall/Winter 2009
Isaac Mizrahi debuted his Fall/Winter 2009 collection at the New York Public Library, breaking the conventions of fashion to deliver a show that was truly avant-garde. With models wearing hats modeled after handbags, and the cut of many coats and dresses appearing to have skewed dimensions, the collection embraced the unexpected, causing a thought-provoking reaction from his audience.
Jill Stuart, Fall/Winter 2009
Jill Stuart wanted a venue that mirrored the glamour she brings to her clothes. With models filling the impressive building and all guests getting a front-row seat, the collection, inspired by the beginning of London fashion in the ’60s and ‘70s, embraced decadence in all definitions of the word.
Thom Browne Spring/Summer 2013
Thom Browne, inspired by the works of German painter and choreographer Oskar Schlemmer, set his Spring/Summer 2013 collection against the backdrop of the New York Public Library. The library, adorned with funhouse mirrors and giant silver pinwheels, created an eye-catching theatrical atmosphere as modernism met tradition.
Victoria Beckham Fall/Winter 2013
Designer Victoria Beckham brought classic menswear influences to her Fall/Winter 2013 ready-to-wear collection at the New York Public Library. To complement Beckham’s use of indigo and darker tones, the library fittingly reflected this seamlessly.
Marchesa Spring/Summer 2014
During Fashion Week, Marchesa flocked to the New York Public Library with a series of ornate gowns and red carpet stars, turning the library into a timelessly elegant backdrop to showcase its 1920s, 1930s, and 1950s inspired ensembles. The models—dressed in a collection of silk fringe, pearl layers, hand-painted florals, and transparent overlays—were compared to butterflies elegantly drifting through the library, which was similarly dressed in plush white carpets, gold chairs, and heavy drapery.
Philipp Plein Fall/Winter 2017
In 2017, Philipp Plein, with Alec Monopoly, took over the historic building to make his own history in a fashion extravaganza. With guests like Madonna, Paris Hilton, and Kylie Jenner, the show was a part of the brand’s expansion into the United States and nothing is more traditionally a beloved fixture of the American fashion capital, than the New York Public Library. With Fetty Wap singing “Trap Queen” in the background, the Swiss designer certainly made an impact on America, topping the increasingly ostentatious shows he had thrown in Europe.
Kate Spade Spring/Summer 2019
In September 2018, Kate Spade debuted a pink-filtered runway collection with the soft warm glow of the pink-carpeted backdrop and a thick silver glitter trail weaving down the runway, highlighting the collection’s use of pastels, floral patterns, and ‘70s influences. In paying tribute to the late founder’s “sparkle” as its new creative director, Nicola Glass, debuted her first collection, the library was transformed to reflect warm optimism.
Oscar De La Renta Fall/Winter 2020
In February 2020, Oscar De La Renta took over the New York Public Library to bring classic beauty and the grandiose architecture of the library together. With many stating that this show illustrated the brand recapturing some of the late Oscar’s magic, velvet gowns, feathered skirts, and sequined pantsuits embraced glamour, bringing in elements of modern party materials. With Bella Hadid walking the runway in a red velvet dress with a massive pink feather cape, this collection made waves on the Internet, as people fawned over the entire atmosphere of the show.
