In the midst of setting new trends and bringing stars together in the Big Apple, this season's New York Fashion Week packed a few powerful punches.
Much like a back to school routine, celebrities, style mavens and industry figures put their most stylish foot forward and gathered at various locations throughout New York City to take in the spring-summer 2019 shows. However, in the mix of all the usual pomp and circumstance, it was clear that some designers were interested in making statements beyond style.
Brands like Chromat, Christian Siriano, Jeremy Scott, Brandon Maxwell and more invited their crowds in for shows that, in some way or another, pushed the boundaries of what is typically found in all corners of NYC's biannual affair.
For some showings, that meant expanding the range of sizes walking the runway. For others, a political message was the pièce de résistance.
"He's been such a supporter of the campaign, which I've been so honored by and so grateful for," New York gubernatorial candidate Cynthia Nixon told E! News of Siriano, who sported a shirt that read "I'm Voting for Cynthia" down his runway on Saturday. "It was an incredible tribute, but it's a natural fit because he's been a designer that has so much been a champion for so long of [the message] that fashion should be for everybody." Meanwhile, Nixon was among the most unexpected, but appreciated front row guests of the season as she sat beside Whoopi Goldberg at Siriano's event.
While not every designer has fully embraced inclusivity or diversity in their shows, others like Siriano continue to practice what they preach no matter who is following along.
Though there's always room for more progress in the seasons to come, there were some instances this time around when an extra round of applause was necessary.
Without further ado, here are some of the most empowering moments to take place this season at New York Fashion Week: