This fashion week, the industry made some seriously emboldening moves forward.
Thanks to an expanding range of sizes, ages, ethnicities and genders represented on the catwalks, every season the industry inches toward becoming a more embracive field. There were signs of that this week as some designers continued to defy the age-old boundaries of their trade by giving an array of models the platform to strut for the world to see.
There were equally empowering moments taking place on the sidelines as Cardi B took her seat next to Anna Wintour and Victoria Beckham demonstrated the juggling act of a working mother of four in one fell swoop.
Whether the larger message was solidarity, inclusion, simply mirroring reality or all of the above, the impact of these fashion week moments will live long beyond these seven days.
As model Candice Huffine wrote to her social media followers, "There is a saying that 'fashion is fantasy,' but I believe fashion is far more exciting when it matches this world in which we live today." Step by step, that vision is solidifying.
Here are some of the moments that prove that to be true:
Stay tuned all week for more updates, celebrity looks and how-tos from NYFW!