From bumping into Olivia Palermo to sipping cocktails in one of the Big Apple's ultimate hot spots, celebrity stylist Gemma Sheppard has been keeping us up to date with the happenings at New York Fashion Week. Here, she tells us what it's like to be part of the world-famous style extravaganza...
"The actual shows of New York fashion week can vary enormously. It isn't just the clothes we are watching, the location, the music, the models' diversity — all aspects are up for discussion and the designers are now working every point to get their personality across.
"Veronica Beard was held in a Church-like venue, a sweeping staircase taking us to the main hall, candle lit with Chelsea Leyland DJ-ing and the models stood statue like on blocks. A number of shows were held out at Pier 59, some way out of the centre and right next to the water — a warehouse-like venue, which is rather stark and understated so that their shows, such as Toca, are back to basics.
"The central and 'official' location for the shows is the Lincoln Centre — inhabited by hordes of Japanese fashion bloggers. It feels like the 'official' venue, almost conference like and for me it has lost some of the edge that the alternative venues can offer. Shows held here are of the more traditional runway, pumping, make your seat vibrate, music, bright lights style. So far my favourite show was at the alternative Milk Studios - where art meets fashion. Here the audience sat on the runway so that the models walked around the spectators. Regardless of the show type, all of them have the distinctive sound of the camera's clicking like crickets as the models appear - it is an unmistakable sound and one that confirms we are indeed right at the heart of New York Fashion Week."