What We're Packing For New York Fashion Week: Look Inside the Luggage of Catt Sadler, Zanna Roberts Rassi & the E! News Team

What to wear at NYFW

By Cinya Burton Sep 04, 2015 10:30 PMTags
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They say there's the calm before the storm, and yet that never seems to be the case when it comes to the couture cyclone that is Fashion Week (which let's be honest, is really Fashion Month).

While most folks are planning a relaxing Labor Day weekend right about now, the E! News team is currently in overdrive prepping for NYFW (followed by London, Milan and finally Paris). Because immediately after the last holiday of summer comes fall Spring 2016.  

So for the last few weeks, our team—of hosts, producers, reporters, editors, stylists and photographers—has been securing front row seats, scoring exclusive interviews with designers, confirming backstage access and sending in our RSVPs to next week's hottest fashion fêtes.

Now all that's left to do is…well, pack.

Before you think us procrastinators, let's all agree that packing for fashion week is not like packing for vacation. Everyone knows that the outfits in the front row, or sidewalk for that matter, can get as much attention—certainly on Instagram—as the clothing in the brand new collections.

So naturally our team wants to look our best—and that takes quite a bit of sartorial planning. Get a sneak peek inside that process and our suitcases below!

Catt Sadler, E! News Co-Host
It's tricky not to overpack for NYFW. I'm lucky that I have another set of creative hands helping me with the process. My stylist Becca Jefferson and I have been gathering some pretty insane pieces for weeks now!

This suede camel-colored fringe skirt from Intermix is not your run of the mill fringe. I like the asymmetrical design and it fits like a glove. So chic and makes quite the statement all by itself.

These suede and leather thigh-high Isabel Marant boots are borderline obnoxious and that's exactly why I bought them. They scream Kate Moss to me. The heel is perfect for NYC—not too skinny—and the versatility will be valuable. I plan to wear them with jeans, shorts, and mini dresses.

Now these Stella McCartney bellbottoms are the perfect shade of blue and the most comfortable stretch. I especially love them with this Elizabeth & James crop fringe top. I also adore this silk floral romper from TopShop.

Then there's skincare, which is absolutely key for me. I always pack my Murad moisturizer, a radiance peel, and age spot and pigment lightening serum. I am obsessed with Strange Invisible body lotion because it moisturizes but also has the most delicious perfumed scent.

As for hair and makeup I am so fortunate that I have artists there taking care of me, but I still pack some staples: My Oribe hair spray and refresher, My IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer, IT Veil Beauty Fluid Foundation, Burberry Fluid Fresh Glow.

Plus, I want to go bold with lipstick colors so I'm bringing along two of my faves: NYX in Razzle Fiesta and Raspberry Tart.

Zanna Roberts Rossi, E! New Fashion Correspondent
New York Fashion Week in September is my favorite! The weather is balmy (perfect for breaking out anything and everything in your wardrobe!), people seem refreshed after finally turning off their vacation auto-responders and spirits are running high. My schedule this year is hectic as I'm due to report for both E! News and Marie Claire—with at least eight shows on deck each day. Plus, I'm interviewing David Beckham, Ciara, Sarah Jessica Parker and Marc Jacobs to name a few. So I need versatile looks that will take me from day to night as I run from meetings to shows to after-parties. Here are three I've decide on so far:

Preen by Thornton Bregazzi: For the record, I have an obsession with everything Justin and Thea of Preen create. My practical side loves that it's comfortable, versatile and flattering. My emotional side says it's freaking stunning! It never fails to elicit the "Where did you get that?" question, which, let's be honest, is all anyone wants to hear at NYFW anyway. I'll be throwing this on with a pair of metallic Giuseppe Zanotti heels.

Burberry: Staying loyal to my fellow Brits! This piece is from the incredible Burberry fall collection. It's playful and bohemian, but still sexy enough to carry me through all the evening's festivities. I'm thinking I'll pair it with my studded Eddie Borgo bracelet and a pair of sick heels.

Preen Line: I swear, I don't work for them…but they do work for me! This look is my marathon ensemble that will take me from show to show to show until I drop. It's comfortable enough that you can sprint, sweat and stress-eat in it and still look like you're on top of everything. I'll wear it with a pair of clean white Adidas sneakers, which are my go-to shoes for when I need to be on my feet all day.

My beauty must-haves can be summed up as: Dior sunglasses, Dry Shampoo by Oribe, Jewelry by Collette, Eve Lom face cream and iPhone cases by Adopted. (I'll swap a new one every day to work with my outfit. Yep. Really.)

Vanessa McDonald, Senior Producer
I've learned the easiest way to manage my NYFW schedule is to have my looks styled and laid out ahead of time. When I leave my house in Brooklyn in the morning I may not be back until midnight so each of my looks can transition to evening with a small tweak.  

This season I plan on pairing my Vince leather shorts with a H&M Conscious Collection blazer and a Rebecca Taylor top and a fun pair of cheetah flats. Then I'll throw on my Phillip Lim backpack for a pop of color and function (my Converse high tops fit perfectly inside).

Another look I've prepped in advance is this Misha Nonoo double breasted jacket & long sleeve floral Zara dress. I'll add some edge with a Chanel boy bag & TopShop booties and I'm ready to go.   

It's still warm in NY so I guarantee I'll be feeling some florals one day like the flirty Tracy Reese dress. I'll layer the caramel J.Crew jacket, YSL messenger and a pop of color in these Jimmy Choo sandals.

My NYFW beauty essentials are pretty easy. I always carry my NARS red lipstick. After running around all day, I can throw it on before dashing into a show and I instantly feel put together. Mascara, dry shampoo and Charlotte Tilbury's wonder glow are all quick fixes that I don't leave home without. Oh, and a face mask is essential at night! 

Cinya Burton, Style Senior Editor
While most editors going to fashion week probably lose a significant amount of space in their suitcase to shoes, my dominant luggage-filler is always beauty items. Starting with hair products—And I don't mean hot tools. You see, as a former New Yorker, I remember all too well how September humidity turns my silky straight tresses into a lion's mane. So I'm not even going to pack my flat iron. Instead I'll be rocking my ringlets and bringing along at least six conditioners, Kerastase Curl Fever Defining Gel and DevaCurl Set It Free.

As for makeup, my carryon will be stuffed with at least a dozen lipsticks, plus I'm practically giddy to test out Amy Nadine's first eye shadow palette (out this October), which she'll be using to create the beauty looks at Lauren Conrad's debut NYFW show

Skin care is the easy part. My essentials are: Avene sunscreen, Caudalie Beauty Elixir, Ren Flash Facial, Yes to Cucumbers wipes, and Fresh bar soap and Shu Uemura Essence fragrance.

The rest of my roller bag will be bursting with midi skirts, crop tops, sandals and what I'm most excited about wearing: For Love & Lemon's lace skirt set and a plaid vest by Thakoon for Kohl's (as just modeled by Olivia Palermo).

New York, here I come!

Jacqueline Lee, Style Photo Editor
Judging by the size of my case it feels like I am bringing everything with me to NYC. My office, my wardrobe…pretty much my life—except my kittens! I'll be running around with a laptop and camera, kneeling on the floor of the risers and standing on chairs to get the best picture angles so I'm keeping heels low and building a lot of my outfits around jeans.

I can't wait to wear the thrift store trend, it's such a fun and kooky style and it's also a bit of a challenge to make a great outfit that looks like it came from a yard sale but is totally cute at the same time. I've gone for a vintage-looking skirt from H&M and my favorite hexagon purse which actually came from a charity shop in London.

As for my party attire, I'm ridiculously excited to wear my Herve Leger dress. I've never worn it before and it's kind of a show stopper.

When it comes to beauty I'm a bit of a jumble but I just can't live without my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer and my Burberry nude lipstick. Classics!