10 Best & 10 Worst Celeb Looks From New York Fashion Week 2023
Style savants around the globe love fashion week, and many take place in the world's most prominent locations each year. New York Fashion Week happens not just once every year, but twice. Fashion houses debut their fall/winter collections in the Big Apple each February, and they preview their spring/summer designs every September. While fashionistas across the planet eagerly await the latest drops from the world's leading luxury labels, they also buzz with anticipation over which celebrities will be in attendance and what they'll be wearing during one of the foremost fashion events in existence.
In 2023, megastars like Queen Latifah, Lindsay Lohan, and Quinta Brunson stepped out for New York Fashion Week, but not all of their ensembles cemented them as style icons. While many celebrities wore stunning, surprising, and memorable looks, many others debuted outfits that were confusing, chaotic, and simply missed the mark. Some unexpected stars embodied peak fashion with their chic looks, while some equally shocking celebrities fell flat with the worst ensembles of the week-long event.
Best: Quinta Brunson's sleek all-black ensemble
Quinta Brunson attended her first fashion week during New York's 2023 fall/winter exhibition, and despite being new to the haute couture scene, her outfits made her look like a fashion week mainstay. One ensemble was especially stunning — the "Abbott Elementary" actor's chic all-black look for the Christian Siriano show.
Brunson and her stylist, Bryon Javar, chose a strapless gown with a fitted silhouette and an ankle-length hem. The neckline of the dress featured two inverted Vs with a severe, plunging cut down the chest. A delicate, sparking silver chain held the bodice together, giving the gown a subtle hint of glitz. The glamour was intensified in Brunson's accessories, which included a tilted boater hat, slim cat-eye sunglasses, large pearl drop-style earrings, finger bands including a black flower cocktail ring, and some silver bangles. The actor also wore sheer black tights and dramatic pointed-toe pumps, achieving a timeless look with modern, sultry flair.
During an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Brunson explained that being invited to the fashion event was about more than just the clothing. "I think most people know I'm a very short girl, 4-foot-11, and as a short girl you rule yourself out of things like Fashion Week, or fashion in general," she said. "So it's really cool to be invited and part of me feels like I have a civic duty now to show up for the small girls at the things I get invited to."
Worst: Julia Fox's campy poodle dress
Julia Fox is known for her outrageous outfits, and she showed up to New York Fashion Week with one of her strangest looks to date. On the final day of the event, the "Uncut Gems" actor donned a tight strapless dress with a straight neckline and ankle-length hem. The hot pink number was embellished with sparkling sequins throughout, but the main focal point was the gigantic cartoon poodle situated between her bust and knees. The white dog was fabricated from fluffy faux fur and a shorter fuzzy material. The pooch featured big blue eyes with winged eyeliner and pink eyeshadow, as well as pink bows on its ears.
Fox finished the loud look with a towering pair of white platform heels, complete with crisscrossing straps atop the foot. The actor didn't wear any other accessories — she certainly didn't need them considering how much was already going on with the dress — but she did wear her eyebrows bleached and bare for the occasion.
Best: Lea Michele's bridal-inspired lace jumpsuit
Lea Michele attended Michael Kors' runway show during New York Fashion Week, and she wore a gorgeous bridal-inspired ensemble by the esteemed designer for the occasion. The "Glee" alum stepped out in a semi-sheer, ivory-colored lace jumpsuit that featured spaghetti straps, a sloping scoop neckline, modest cutouts at the sides of her waist, fitted pants that flared into a wide-legged silhouette at her calves, and a paillette-embellished floral pattern throughout the delicate garment. Michele topped the ethereal, feminine jumpsuit with an oversized white blazer, which added a masculine vibe to the look due to the larger fit and structured shoulders of the jacket.
The contrasting pieces created an interesting dichotomy in the actor's look, offering a chic example of how to successfully blend women's fashion and menswear garments. For accessories, the Broadway star chose chunky silver earrings, vintage-style tortoise-print aviator sunglasses, white platform sandals, and a darling white lunch pail-style handbag.
Worst: Suki Waterhouse's sheer color-blocked ensemble
For Tory Burch's runway show during New York Fashion Week, Suki Waterhouse combined several trends in a look that's admittedly not one of our favorites the "Daisy Jones and The Six" star has worn. Waterhouse embraced the sheer shirt and bra combo that's frequently worn by celebrities, opting for a black top with three-quarter-length sleeves. Underneath the scoop-necked see-through shirt, the actor donned a sparkly silver bralette.
Waterhouse also incorporated the color-blocking trend into her fashion week ensemble. She chose a high-waisted maxi skirt with a ruched dark brown top section that transitioned to floaty, tangerine-colored sheer material from the top of her thighs down to her ankles. Additionally, the "Good Looking" singer wore a satiny, army green trench coat and yellow and white color-blocked heels with a pointed toe. Waterhouse went sans jewelry for the occasion, only accessorizing with a white patent leather handbag with purple velvet sides and silver hardware.
Best: Lana Condor's chocolate and cream look
Lana Condor was a timeless beauty in her feminine ensemble at Tory Burch's New York City fashion show. The "To All the Boys I Loved Before" star channeled the demure yet kittenish vibe of Audrey Hepburn with her chocolate and cream-colored look, which included a wool mini dress and matching coat. The rich brown top layer featured large opalescent buttons and an asymmetrically-cut hem, which created a peek-a-boo effect with the straight-cut edge of the frock underneath. The actor added a cream-colored silk ascot to the look, loosely tied at the neck, which played beautifully off the ivory tones in the coat's buttons.
Condor accessorized with a creamy quilted Tory Burch saddle bag, which featured a chunky gold chain strap. She finished the captivating look with a pair of sheer black tights, black patent leather platform pumps, a chic cocktail ring and two slimmer shimmering finger bands, and a pair of sparkling earrings.
Worst: Brie Larson's 1980s prom-inspired dress
While Brie Larson's 1980s prom-inspired fashion week look would be fantastic for a period film reminiscent of John Hughes' iconic movies, it feels a little too cheesily retro to work in real life. For the Rodarte show, the "Captain Marvel" star wore a black velvet dress with a knee-length hem. The light-catching fabric was ruched down the bodice, gathered at the center where three large magenta-colored velvet rosettes were stitched to the garment. Larson accessorized with a pair of black pointed-toe pumps, which helped the ensemble look a tad more grown-up but also added a confusing businesswoman vibe that didn't work with the dress.
The style theme for the celebrity guests in attendance skewed vintage, but other stars executed the aesthetic more fashionably than Larson. For example, Alexa Chung stunned in a vivid green slip dress with ivory lace detailing and black latex boots; Rachel Zoe was fierce in a black leather jumpsuit and a white faux fur coat; and Maddie Ziegler was lovely in a retro-meets-modern silk slip dress with a jewel-toned floral pattern and billowing off-the-shoulder tulle sleeves.
Best: Lindsay Lohan's monochromatic copper moment
Joining Quinta Brunson for Christian Siriano's runway show, Lindsay Lohan was a copper-clad goddess in her New York Fashion Week ensemble. The auburn-haired actor donned a two-piece satin set that threw shades of bronze, peach, copper, and rust depending on where the light hit the radiant material. Lohan's loose-fitting look included a high-necked, cape-style top with draping sleeves that billowed down her sides. Her wide-legged trousers featured a pressed pleat down the center of each leg, which gave the baggy pants added shape and dimension.
The "Mean Girls" icon led with her monochromatic hair and makeup as her accessories for the fashion week look — her copper tresses were styled in a voluminous blowout and her soft glam incorporated peach and orange tones. Lohan also wore a strand of diamonds in each ear as well as a few bracelets on both wrists, keeping the accessories minimal while adding a bit more glamour to the alluring look.
Worst: Bella Thorne's saucy star-shaped number
Bella Thorne attended New York Fashion Week, making a risqué appearance at the Christian Cowan show. The former child star went with a white halter-style gown with a floor-length hem for the occasion. The saucy number featured a star-shaped bodice with a large midriff cutout and smaller cutouts at her sides that exposed the edges of her breasts. The low neckline and string ties at Thorne's neck left her décolletage bare, and her shoulders and upper arms were naked as well. The fitted skirt flared ever so slightly around the actor's feet, and the gown was embellished with iridescent sequins throughout the material.
Thorne accessorized with black latex gloves that extended just past her elbows, a diamond-encrusted watch and silver bracelets fastened atop her opera gloves, large sparkling statement earrings, and strappy silver heels. For a portion of the evening, the actor also wore a Bratz doll-esque hot pink jacket that was trimmed in shaggy faux fur. While the look is definitely sexy, it doesn't feel elegant and refined like similar looks from other celebrities, such as Kate Hudson's halter bandeau bra and slit skirt look for the Michael Kors show.
Best: Emma Roberts' classic ensemble with a sultry twist
At Kate Spade's runway show during New York Fashion Week, Emma Roberts nailed the visible lingerie trend while exuding modern Audrey Hepburn vibes similar to Lana Condor's best look of the week. The "American Horror Story" star donned a semi-sheer black long-sleeve shirt with a wide scoop neck, and beneath the top, she wore a triangular black bra. Roberts' pretty ensemble gave a nod to the poodle skirt era with her black and white polka dot A-line skirt, which was high-waisted with an ankle-length hem. She finished off the classic look with black leather heeled loafers, a rectangular black Kate Spade handbag, and a simple silver ring.
During an interview with Marie Claire, Roberts spoke fondly of the fashion brand, opining, "Kate Spade just makes clothes that make people happy." The "We're the Millers" star added, "I love polka dots, so I'm happy to see all the dots in [Kate Spade's Fall 2023] collection. Kate Spade always does a good polka-dot moment."
Worst: Queen Latifah's multi-print winter look
Queen Latifah's outfit for the Thom Browne runway show during New York Fashion Week had a lot going on. While certain pieces of the look weren't bad on their own, all together they created an overwhelmingly busy ensemble. The multi-hyphenate entertainer donned a grayscale puffer coat featuring a whale and ship ocean motif and a mid-calf hem. Beneath the winter jacket, the "Girls Trip" actor wore a white dress shirt and a gray and white plaid tie, as well as gray and white graphic print socks and color-blocked heeled oxford shoes.
Latifah accessorized with a large gray and white plaid luggage tote and a tall gray cossack-style shearling hat, looking like she was ready to go on a ski trip to Siberia. The rapper also wore a mid-sized pair of silver hoops in her ears for a hint of feminine bling in the mostly masculine-feeling, pattern-heavy ensemble. While we love a successful pattern-clashing moment, the prints in Latifah's look aren't harmoniously complimenting each other — they're battling for dominance.
Best: Priyanka Chopra's sheer lingerie look
Acing a lingerie-based look can be challenging — there's a fine line between tasteful and tacky when it comes to sheer ensembles — but Priyanka Chopra delivered a masterclass in the flawless execution of a sultry, skin-baring look at New York Fashion Week in 2023.
For the celebration of the inaugural Victoria's Secret World Tour film, Chopra donned a jaw-dropping sequin and mesh dress by Giambattista Valli. The see-through gown featured a cutout down the mid-line of the torso, creating a seductive peek-a-boo effect at the center of the star's bust. The dress' floor-length hem and long sleeves balanced the sexiness of the sheer material and spicy cutout, and the twist detailing at the base of the neck added a little extra glamour to the glitzy look. Chopra cinched her waist with a matching gunmetal belt and accessorized with black platform pumps and silver jewelry. Beneath the gown, Chopra wore a triangle-shaped bralette and high-waisted briefs.
The "Quantico" star styled her rich chocolate tresses in loose waves and wore a smoky terracotta-toned makeup look — a great compliment to her outfit.
Worst: Lourdes Leon's distressed web tank dress
In contrast to Priyanka Chopra's posh and polished lingerie look, Lourdes Leon's barely-there outfit for the Victoria's Secret World Tour event falls on the racier side of the spectrum — and it unfortunately just didn't work.
Madonna's eldest daughter confidently stepped out for the New York Fashion Week event wearing a black G-string thong and a see-through, distressed tank dress. The mini dress, designed by Natalia Fedner, was made of thin metallic material woven to create a web-like look. The garment featured a smattering of shimmering rhinestones throughout and bared Leon's body almost completely, including her breasts and backside.
She accented the ensemble with an amethyst and diamond necklace, a variety of bold rings, and black peep-toe platform sandals. Leon wore her long raven-colored hair pressed straight and parted down the center in a style reminiscent of Cher's signature look in the 1970s.
Best: Jennifer Lopez's multi-textured Y2K-inspired outfit
Jennifer Lopez proved she knows how to nail a theme at Ralph Lauren's "A Barn Grows in Brooklyn" runway show for New York Fashion Week. The entertainment multi-hyphenate, who sat front row at the event, wore a captivating multi-textured ensemble that leaned into the Western aesthetic and resurgent Y2K style trend. The bodice of Lopez's dress featured a sheer button-up blouse with billowing bishop sleeves. The "On the Floor" singer left the silvery gossamer material unbuttoned down the bust, showing off a large gunmetal chest plate necklace cascading from her collarbone to the center of her cleavage.
Lopez's skirt was comprised of tiered layers and a modest slit, which lent a floaty, ethereal effect to the look. The fabric featured a marble-esque print, blending shimmering silvers, pinks, and purples in an abstract pattern. Lopez joined the two garments together with a wide cognac leather belt that featured a massive silver buckle, adding just enough yee-haw to the feminine ensemble. Lopez accessorized with dangling earrings to match her necklace, a champagne silk clutch, and mauve velvet peep-toe platform pumps. While entering and exiting the venue, she also wore a Western-style jacket in a subtly reflective light gold tone with fringe and corded stitching. Lopez styled her honey-hued hair in loose waves and opted for a smoky eye with rose tones in her blush and lip color for a truly stunning ensemble.
Worst: Julia Fox's wristwatch ensemble
While we applaud Julia Fox for continually pushing the boundaries in fashion and confidently dressing in outrageous outfits, some of the model's outfits just leave us feeling perplexed — and her inventive wristwatch ensemble is a prime example.
While attending Pandora's New York Fashion Week event for the launch of their lab-grown diamond collection, Fox rocked a barely-there look comprised of an ultra-slim bandeau top and low-waisted micro-skirt made entirely of black leather wristwatches. Fox donned a sheer pair of black pantyhose beneath the skirt and accessorized with a black leather handbag that featured oversized 2000s-style belt buckles adorned to the front of the purse. She added a strappy pair of studded kitten heels, wore cool-toned makeup look, and styled her hair in an extremely long mullet to coordinate with the daring and edgy ensemble.
While the wristwatch concept is unique and cool in theory, the pieces are just too bawdy and tacky to be considered a high-fashion win.
Best: Blake Lively's sexy '70s disco look
Blake Lively returned to the New York City streets to remind us that she is still the style icon she was back in her "Gossip Girl" days. While attending Michael Kors' runway show for New York Fashion Week, the actor was the center of attention thanks to her 1970s-inspired jumpsuit. The gorgeous gold number featured a plunging scoop neckline, a curve-hugging silhouette, and bell-bottom-style pants that fabulously flared at the knees. The one-piece leaned into the retro era's aesthetic with its head-to-toe sequin-embellished material.
Lively kept her accessories simple: she wore a thin tan belt and let the tail of the waistband stylishly drape down her leg. Additionally, the "Age of Adaline" star donned a chunky pair of metallic statement earrings and an assortment of silver and gold rings. Further playing up the vintage element, Lively styled her blond tresses in voluminous, tightly coiled curls reminiscent of the disco era. She complimented the warm gold tones in her outfit with her understated makeup, which featured plenty of rich bronzer and champagne-colored highlights.
Worst: Noami Osaka's print clashing moment
We have such admiration for tennis champ Naomi Osaka, but her New York Fashion Week outfit is a miss for us. While attending the event for Victoria's Secret's World Tour, Osaka served a print-clashing moment that just didn't slay.
The athlete wore a floral and lace corset crop top with lilac and magenta flowers decorating the center of the bodice. She paired the lingerie-esque top with a high-waisted tennis skirt that featured a large print of a sunset beach scene. Osaka topped the look off with a lavender shacket with a vintage floral print.
Osaka sported a white pair of Nike sneakers, a layered assortment of necklaces, and a pair of silver hoop earrings. Overall, the outfit is disjointed — the skirt and shoes belong to one look, and the corset and shacket belong to another. It's almost like Osaka wandered through a Victoria's Secret Pink store while blindfolded and came out with three pieces she had to combine.
Best: Lori Harvey's dramatic sheer dress
Vintage was a common theme in many celebrity looks for 2023's New York Fashion Week, including one worn by Lori Harvey. For the PrettyLittleThing x Naomi Campbell fashion show, Steve Harvey's daughter donned a 1980s-inspired dress, which is part of the iconic supermodel's collection with the fast fashion brand.
This is a perfect example of tastefully baring skin. Harvey's black dress featured a velvet bodice complete with a hood and plunging décolletage. The gauze-like ankle-length skirt was subtly translucent, showing the model's black underwear and fishnet tights beneath. The curve-hugging dress was definitely revealing, and in a way that worked.
For the sultry all-black look, Harvey accessorized with ruched velvet opera gloves and pointed-toe pumps. She also wore several gold Chanel choker necklaces, oversized metallic hoop earrings, a fierce cat-eye, a hefty amount of bronzer, and a luscious, shiny lip — all of which added even more drama to the slinky ensemble.
Worst: Ashley Park's busy bedazzled ensemble
When separated, the elements of Ashley Park's Pandora's New York Fashion Week event ensemble could actually work; in combination, they clash and fail. The "Emily in Paris" actor wore an asymmetrically-cut mini dress to the jeweler's lab-grown diamond launch party. The girly garment featured a plunging neckline with a black bodice peeking out from beneath the mossy-green shimmering fabric. Large velvet bows are adorned to the halter straps, and the dress is draped in a cowl-neck silhouette across the bust and waist. Park paired the dress with thigh-high crystal-clad boots, which led to shimmer overload.
The actor took the bow detailing to the extreme with the three on the micro handbag, her hairbow, and the bows that adorned the dress. The actor also donned sheer black pantyhose and several pieces of silver jewelry, and she kept her makeup simple with thick winged eyeliner.
Best: Janet Jackson's monochromatic fall 'fit
It's always a treat when Janet Jackson hits fashion week because she routinely delivers top-tier looks. While supporting Christian Siriano at his New York Fashion Week runway show, which doubled as a celebration of his fashion week debut 15 years earlier, the iconic singer donned a monochromatic ensemble that's giving all the high-fashion fall vibes.
Jackson's look featured three pieces, all in a rich pumpkin shade and latex. The musician wore a high-necked midi dress that hugged her frame with a floor-length trench coat that featured structured shoulders. Jackson pushed the sleeves up to her elbows, which drew attention to her cinched waist. During a conversation with Vogue, Siriano revealed a nostalgic aspect of the "Rhythm Nation" singer's look, describing it as "an homage to her and Michael [Jackson] and their black latex."
Jackson completed the city-chic look with matching thigh-high latex boots, oversized gold hoop earrings, a statement ring, and a bangle bracelet. She wore her hair slicked back in a braided rope that extended past her waist, and her makeup was a soft glam with lots of warm bronze, gold, and beige tones.
Worst: June Ambrose's upside down denim dress
June Ambrose had us applauding for a few of her New York Fashion Week 2023 looks, but the denim ensemble she wore to Harlem's Fashion Row Style Awards and Fashion Show was not one of them. The designer and stylist donned a knee-length dress that was essentially a denim button-up shirt flipped upside down. The garment's sleeves were tied at the waist, and spaghetti straps were sewn to the neckline of the reimagined dress. Inventive? Absolutely. Stylish? Nope.
Ambrose doubled down on the denim with a pair of cuffed denim pointed-toe heels for a dismantled blue jean boot vibe. Known for her penchant for hats, the designer wore a black top hat with oversized Mickey Mouse ears. Ambrose accessorized with silver jewelry and a tan backpack, and she wore her tresses loose in waves and tiny braids. Overall, the look is giving Disney Adult ready to hit the theme park ... which would work at Disneyland but falls flat at Fashion Week.