[title]
New York Fashion Week is usually a velvet-rope affair—if you don’t have an invite, you’re stuck scrolling Instagram like the rest of us. But this year, the city’s most stylish secret is out: You can watch the runway magic unfold for free, right in the heart of Midtown.
Through Tuesday, September 16, Rockefeller Center is transforming into the only public destination, physical or digital, to stream the American collections live. Thanks to the Council of Fashion Designers of America and presenting partner Genesys, NYFW Live at Rockefeller Center is back for its second season, serving up front-row thrills without the front-row stress.
Expect a parade of big-name designers lighting up the jumbo screens, from Michael Kors and Ralph Lauren to Coach, Tory Burch, Jason Wu and Anna Sui. The lineup is stacked with heavy hitters and downtown darlings alike: Brandon Maxwell, Christian Siriano, Eckhaus Latta, Collina Strada and Ulla Johnson are all on deck. Even Off-White will make an appearance, proving you don’t need a wristband or six-figure job title to catch the hottest shows.
The screenings will take place at the Rink and Channel Gardens—two of the Center’s most iconic spots—so you can soak in the glam against a backdrop of Art Deco grandeur. And because fashion is nothing without fanfare, the whole thing kicked off on Thursday with a ribbon-cutting featuring CFDA Chairman Thom Browne alongside designers Cynthia Rowley and Willy Chavarria.
The star power doesn’t stop there. Supermodel Anok Yai and music sensations Peso Pluma and Young Miko are this season’s official ambassadors, bringing extra wattage to an already glittering week.
If you’re thinking this sounds like a perfect excuse to ditch the office for “important cultural research,” you’re right. Whether you want to see Anna Sui’s latest daydreams, scope out what Calvin Klein is cooking or just bask in the spectacle of it all, Rockefeller Center is where fashion week meets the people.
And the price of admission? Zero. Zip. Nada. Just show up, grab a spot and pretend you’re sitting across from Anna Wintour, no invitation necessary.