New York Fashion Week is like back to school every year. It's on the tail end of Labor Day, and always greets my birthday week. I've worked in the fashion industry for more than a decade, and it has always been a signal of newness, a creative awakening for the industry, an opportunity to see friends and past colleagues. NYFW has been a part of my life since I was a bustling student at fashion school. I've journeyed through it as an intern working her first show, an assistant eager to learn all the market, a stylist keying her own show for designers like Fe Noel and Chromat and an editor looking for the next trends and looks to style each season.

Each year, fashion week in September is a reminder of how much I've grown as a woman and creative in the industry. It shirttails my birthday, and always makes me deeply retrospective. This year felt no different: After almost three years being apart, the air felt refreshing again, the strong urge to see bright and bold silhouettes for next summer back in full action. I journeyed through the shows very differently this year, though. My goal was to take in the art of fashion, less than the chaos of the industry. Instead of a jam-packed editor calendar, I went to shows that sparked joy, thinking of my schedule through the lens of a creative excitement for inspiration.

During the pandemic, I prioritized approaching my life with a key desire for work/life balance. I went full-time freelance, traveled a lot to find myself and really carved a way of life that caters to creativity more than the hustle and bustle of fashion. One thing remained, though, through the time away from the catwalks and shows: my love for getting dressed. It truly is an art form.

As a stylist, editor and creative consultant, I work with brands and retailers to dress up for shows, and showcase the latest pieces and trends. This season, I borrowed pieces from Net-a-Porter and Shopbop, plus pulled from my own closet, and put looks together that resonated with the woman I am today, sans my big eye-catching Afro and with new adult curves. Ahead, see all my outfits from the week and read about how I brought them together.Read more at:lilac prom dress | dark green prom dresses uk