Creator and fashion influencer/model, Rini Jain, covers this year’s New York Fashion Week with 360 Magazine. We sat down with her to hear all the hot takes and highlights on one of fashion’s biggest weeks.
What shows did you attend at this year’s NYFW?
I was thrilled to be a part of some amazing shows this season like Pamella Roland, Dennis Basso, Homolog, Selkie, Tia Adeola, Rebecca Minkoff, Tiffany Brown, June79, Melke, Revolve, Bruce Glen, Deity, Leonardo 5th Avenue, and more. I also attended Vogue Magazine’s 130th Anniversary Celebration hosted by Vogue Club. I made sure to catch the glimpses online for some of the other shows that I was invited to, but missed attending those due to conflicts, NYC weather, and traffic like Frederick Anderson, Cucculelli Shaheen, Willy Chavarria, Blonds, KGL (and a few more).
How was this season different from the last season?
The number of runways, presentations, after-parties, and private viewings was clearly high enough to make up for two pandemic years. The waiting lines and guest lists both seemed more inflated than in the past seasons. Even though the central location of NYFW remained Spring Studios, there were more shows this season that were offsite which made it extremely difficult to commute from one show to the other. There were more Influencers and Content Creators in attendance, highlighting how digital content has been instrumental in helping brands move products. This season, I personally had a record number of show invites and collaborations with designers to wear their pieces during NYFW. Also, NYFW was more international this season with two major Italian houses in the list – Fendi and Marni.
Who were you most excited to see and why?
I was most excited for Pamella Roland and Dennis Basso not only because I truly relate to the unapologetic glamour and glitz in their collections, but also since it was the milestone year and show for both of them. It has been 20 years, and 40 years for Pamella DeVos and Dennis Basso respectively since they launched their own fashion labels. While Pamella Roland set was inspired by the streets of New York with a backdrop that looked like a flower stand, Dennis Basso showcase was at the incredible ballroom at the Pierre Hotel with no dearth of celebrities in attendance – everybody from Martha Stewart, to Kris Jenner, to Carmen Dell’Orefice, and more.
What looks stood out to you?
There were so many. Amongst the shows I attended – Dennis Basso’s furry outerwear, and Pamella Roland’s feather detailing was interestingly used in the pieces. I loved the rich colors and dramatic, avant-garde designs of Melke. I am totally eyeing the ruffles, bows, frills, oversized collars, and bags that resembled pillows from the Selkie showcase. Also, I loved Tia Adeola’s take on knitted fabrics, cutouts, and body-cons. From some of the other shows – I absolutely loved Tom Ford’s look for Bella and Gigi Hadid, and the hot pink suit was so stunning. The patchwork pieces at Coach, and the purple and green sequin look at Fendi certainly caught my eye. Peter Do’s opening look was absolutely magical, a perfect example of fluid tailoring. I also loved Tibi’s stab at menswear, especially the full-denim perfectly baggy look. Marni’s ultra-flared velvet jeans featuring artwork of Flaminia Veronesi was a highlight for sure.
Were there recurring themes or trends that caught your eye?
Fringes, Cargo Trousers, Sequins, Feathers, plenty of Back-to-School looks, and the color Purple were definitely some of the common trends amongst many shows.
Which designers did you wear?
I wore pieces from Ivan Young, Oroy Shakhidi, Bani Pasricha, Kerry Parker, Nirmooha, MAM, Misa Harada, Uncuffed Leather.
Why did you pick those designers?
I chose a mix of designers and brands that are creatively different and unique from each other, represent different visions, cultures, the pieces that will allow me to experiment and style the looks uniquely, and allow me to present my personal style and creativity. I relate so much to the flamboyance and elegance of the pieces from Ivan Young. At the same time, I was so intrigued with how uniquely Oroy Shakhidi constructs a piece, and its opulent finishes. MAM, Misa Harada, Kerry Parker are some of the brands that allow me to bring that element of “statement” in my looks with their accessories. With Uncuffed Leather, I relate so much with the immigrant story of the designer Olga Barsky, and its vision to create pieces and accessories with sustainable leather. Every season, I make sure I wear a few pieces that represent my South Asian/Indian roots, hence Nirmooha and Bani Pasricha, that I absolutely love.
What was your vision behind each look?
I usually get inspired from previous eras, mannequins, runways, movies, art and more for my looks. You may describe my style “Mix Match” because I love to create my own looks that are inspired from multiple things at the same time. If I had to describe my look for the Selkie show this season, I would say “Barbie meets Royal Family”, where I paired a Ruffles Pink Checkered set with feathers details, with gloves that had flower details and a Hat to give it a Royal Family vibe. For another look, I created a modern Audrey Hepburn by pairing a black velvet dress with power shoulders, paired with a statement pearl body necklace. For shows like Dennis Basso, and Pamella Roland, I created an extremely sophisticated, flamboyant, elegant, decadent vibe that totally fit into the vibe of the shows I was attending, by wearing a statement dress embellished with ostrich feathers.
Were any of your outfits influenced by your South Asian background?
Yes, absolutely! I make it a point to represent my culture and showcase amazing Indian designers through at least one of my looks every season. This time I wore a stunning saree from Nirmooha and styled it in a very unique way with gold accessories like gloves, handbag, and vintage earrings. The outfit was an absolute show stealer and garnered compliments from the attendees of the event hosted by Afterpay, the official partners of NYFW, and was also covered by various media houses including Getty Images.
Why is it important for you to attend Fashion Week?
I am a Fashion Student at heart. I learn something new from every single show I attend, and get inspired to create better. It is a huge opportunity for me to connect with amazing brands and designers, network with like-minded people, have fun and get more creative and experimental with my own outfits during the Fashion Week.
Article: Krish Narsinghani, Vaughn Lowery, Dhruv Bhatia
Rini Jain featured in Vogue.
Additional NYFW coverage HERE.
