NYFW Day 3: Hello, my name is Jalian
I take you all through my lightest day of NYFW, which concluded with an incredible dinner at Tillies.
While deciding what to wear yesterday, I realized I hadn’t packed enough options for bottoms—or rather, not enough variety. Knowing I was ending my night at a dinner with Christopher John Rogers, I felt it was only right to wear CJR. I’ve worn this shirt many times, and it’s easily my favorite piece in my wardrobe. It exudes a subtle, sensual energy that I love. As I put it on, I kept envisioning all the things I wished I had with me to pair it with, like one of my Dries skirts or perhaps something sleek like my Armani pants. Unfortunately, none of those were in my suitcase, so I opted for my trusty cargo shorts. Then it hit me—why not throw on my Alex Mill camo jacket? At first, I thought it might be overkill, but it turned out to be the perfect finishing touch.
Today was my lightest day. My first stop was the Simon Miller presentation, showcasing everything from cozy knits to perfect dresses fit for all your weddings. Just across the hall was the Absolutely Fabrics pop-up. I first met Kaelen Haworth, the founder of Absolutely Fabrics, on a trip to Palm Heights, where we had a conversation about how few stores truly take a chance on small, independent brands. At the time, she mentioned that no stores in Toronto were carrying the designers she wanted to support, so she decided to create a space that filled that gap.
She carries brands that I love and cherish in my closet, such as Christopher John Rogers, Zankov, and Martiniano (and for those wondering if I wore those Martiniano shoes all day, I did—they are the most comfortable heels I own! Also Diotima will be landing in her store around November!). She also carries brands I am familiar with but had never seen in person, like BETTTER and Renaissance Renaissance. She stocks Elena Velez as well, whose shows I’ve attended and whose market appointments I’ve gone to, but I had never seen the clothes outside of Velez’s own context. It was quite interesting to see the pieces separated from that world, hanging on a rack next to other brands. There was a top that almost reminded me of a worm because of the ruching, and I was tempted to try it on. Instead, I opted for something from Ashlyn, which is a great brand for customers who love Yohji (While I was looking for links, I randomly came across a Yohji Yamamoto shirt for sale from What Goes Around Comes Around, labeled “André Leon Talley Yohji Yamamoto...” Could someone have bought it from the auction and is now reselling it????). I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Ashlynn Park a few times and attending her shows, and though I have several of her pieces on various wishlists, I’ve never pulled the trigger.
This skirt is actually a pair of culottes and comes with a matching cropped blazer, but I just wanted to try on the bottoms to see how they would pair with this amazing ruffled Lanvin piece from the Alber Elbaz years. Not only is Kaelen carrying these small niche brands, but she’s also offering vintage, which I think is such a smart move for a retailer to incorporate! The shirt was too good to pass up, so I left a happy boy with my new Lanvin. The pop-up is being held at the WSA building at 161 Water Street on the 17th floor, and it’s here until the 12th. Plus, if you’ve been curious to see the world of WSA after reading any number of pieces about it, here’s your chance!
After that, Heather and I headed back to her place. She got to work while I went out to grab us food from Westville. It had been years since I’d eaten there, but back when I was a stylist’s assistant before my time at Saks, you knew it was going to be a good day if the client ordered Westville—and I’m happy to report, the food is just as good as I remember! I also learned a new way to spell my name.
From there, we headed to Batsheva’s street style show, which I later said to her was her “guerrilla” show after the city denied her a permit for a block party—yet she persisted. The models strutted down the street in a salon-style presentation, holding paddles with their look numbers, flashing them to the crowd and cameras. Upon arriving, it was hard to distinguish between invited guests and curious onlookers, but Batsheva had everyone’s full attention. As the models walked, you could feel the magnetic pull—they had every eye on them.
My favorite part was all the prints featured on some of her traditional styles: a dark blue and purple plaid frock worn over a pussybow blouse, wallpaper florals done up in '70s-style house dresses, and a deliciously ruched number. There was also an easy, knee-length belted dress in that striking electric leopard print, the same print found on the floor of her Elizabeth Street store, which was designed by her friend, artist Tim Snell. I was also head over heels for the batwing sleeve trench coat in a military green twill, which Batsheva told me was being worn by a former Halstonette. I think what added even more energy to the clothes was the fact that they were being modeled by her clients, which speaks to Batsheva’s talent for fostering a community and making everyone feel like part of her family.
After that, I headed to a Net-A-Porter event that was held at the Eel Bar, which opened this summer and has the kind of interior that feels straight out of a picturesque diner scene in the movies. The food and wine were inspired by the Basque Country and Southern France. Although I didn’t get a chance to try much, the dishes looked enticing, especially one that resembled those soft, hospital-style ice chips, but infused with what I imagine was some kind of boozy berry concoction. The only thing I did sample was a Campari spritz—or should I say, a Net-A-Spritz. The crowd was fantastic, filled with editors taking a break between shows, designers like Christopher John Rogers and Brandon Maxwell, and fellow Substack writers like Emilia Petrarca, Jenny Walton, and Laura Reilly—plus so many more!
From there, I joined Laura to see Gabe Gordon, a knitwear designer whose collection had a schoolyard look—not just in its feel, but also in its location.
I ended the night at Tillies, celebrating Christopher John Rogers' recent eyewear collaboration with Andy Wolf (which I had the pleasure of modeling for!). The dinner was so wonderful that time seemed to slip away, and before I knew it, I glanced down and realized it was nearly midnight. I couldn't help but think, 'Where did the time go?
See you all tomorrow!
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Love your CJR shirt!
I love coming along on your adventures -- and especially appreciate your warm POV, including an oops packing moment and how you felt your way through XO