New York is getting ready to boom again in its unique, dazzling way with a fully loaded social calendar. Fall in love with the city this season as the busy days turn into incredible parties and affairs from morning to night.
Autumn kicks off in style with New York Fashion Week. The momentous occasion starts with the Museum at FIT honoring Gabriela Hearst with the Couture Council Award for Artistry in Fashion at its famed annual luncheon. The creative director and her namesake fashion brand, along with the French luxury fashion house Chloé will be honored on Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York. The event benefits the only museum in New York dedicated solely to the art of fashion and will have guests including philanthropist Lizzie Asher. For more information, visit www.nyfw.com.
Lizzie da Trindade-Asher
International model and renowned activist Elton Ilirjani is set to walk the runway for Concept Korea on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at Spring Studios. Known around the world as a high-ranking social media influencer and fashion model, Ilirjani boasts a breathtaking following of over 11 million fans. His legions of followers are dedicated to listening and learning from his message of gender equality around the world. Frequenting the pages of fashion magazines and runways, the icon uses his powerful presence to promote a unified existence amongst all of mankind.
Times Square Fashion Week will begin Sunday, Sept. 10, and go through Tuesday, Sept. 12. The Big Apple’s most famous neighborhood comes alive with notable fashion shows, performances, and even digital fashion presentations on the iconic billboards. The fourth annual show is also for a good cause, with funds raised to support the fashion and garment industry under the “Moving Fashion Forward” concept. DRC Ventures will sponsor the event, which features designers from around the globe with a platform to showcase their collections and specialist fabrics – Enviremwear by Dr. Christina Rahm. For more information, visit www.drc-ventures.com.
Fashion and film emerge even more during the fall season in a beautiful way. On Thursday, Sept. 7, the New York City International Fashion Film Festival will premiere the documentary CatWalk FurBaby with an elegant black-tie event at the Dolby Screening Room. The prolific film profiles ELYSIAN Impact’s inaugural fashion show. In February, CatWalk FurBaby kicked off New York Fashion Week at Sony Hall, and a portion of proceeds were donated to the BISSELL Pet Foundation. CatWalk FurBaby was conceived by ELYSIAN Founder and Publisher Karen Floyd to bring together creative powerhouses, women change-makers, and animal welfare organizations to create a better world for furry companions under the auspices of ELYSIAN Impact, the brand’s philanthropic arm.
ELYSIAN and DRC Ventures are set to host several other events around the same time. On Wednesday, Sept. 6, guests will gather at the National Arts Club to celebrate art in autumn. And the day after, on Sept. 7, a very sweet event will take place at MarieBelle New York, where delicious Rahm Roast coffee will be paired perfectly with artisan chocolate. The world-class affair will showcase New York’s finest cacao bar as well as ELYSIAN’s network of Inspiring Women, who will celebrate the CatWalk FurBaby family and second-year success. For more information, visit www.mariebelle.com and www.rahmroast.com.
The crisp autumn air will exhilarate your senses at the Greenwich Polo Club with a luxurious way to spend a Sunday afternoon and an exciting conclusion to the season on Sept. 10. The club hosts some of the most prominent tournaments and professional players in polo, including the esteemed 20-goal East Coast Open. For more information, visit www.greenwichpoloclub.com.
The art world is displaying a newfound excitement with such happenings as the Big Apple return of Don Hershman with his newest exhibition of 21 paintings entitled “The Art of Code Switching.” The show debuts on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the 
renowned Salomon Arts Gallery in Manhattan’s Tribeca district. The show is a brilliant symphony of single and double imagery enmeshing color and shadows – used as a metaphor for the increasing need for social navigation. People of color, women, and the LGBTQ community are once again faced with code switching, a social tool altering language and behavior and becoming increasingly compulsory within today’s shifting political climate. “Like many artists, my paintings are an expression of my personal and political surroundings. It’s 2023. This is what’s happening,” Hershman has said. The show will run until Oct. 15 and will proudly donate 10% from the proceeds of art sales to The Trevor Project. For more, visit www.donhershman.com.
The Food & Fashion exhibition’s opening night reception will take place at the Museum at FIT (MFIT) on Sept. 26. It is an exciting and timely exhibition that explores the impact of food and food culture on fashion design. Food & Fashion includes over 80 garments and accessories by designers including Chanel, Moschino, and Stella McCartney. Notable attendees include the newly formed Couture Council Young Patrons, including cofounders Lizzie Asher and Adrien Gardner Lesser. Learn more: www.fitnyc.edu.
Galas galore will bring back philanthropy in a wonderful way. On Wednesday, Oct. 4, HRH Crown Prince Alexander and HRH Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia will host the Annual Lifeline New York Benefit Dinner at The Explorers Club to aid children’s hospitals in Serbia. The Lifeline Humanitarian Organization is an international effort to reduce and relieve the suffering of children living with physical and mental disabilities. For more, visit www.lifelineny.org.
If you are pining for the Hamptons, why not make a final visit of the season and enjoy the Hamptons International Film Festival, which runs Oct. 5 through Oct. 12. For more information, visit www.hamptonsfilmfest.org.
Then, on Thursday, Oct. 12, the Global Lyme Alliance will host the premiere annual fundraising event dedicated to raising awareness and supporting research for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. The GLA Gala brings together leaders in business, entertainment, and science. Guests are invited to Cipriani 42nd Street to help support GLA’s mission to conquer this insidious disease. Rosanna Scotto will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Learn more at www.globallymealliance.org.
Here’s to a phenomenal season in the city.