Has Harper Beckham started a trend? Who is the new DVF? And what's the key piece for spring/summer 2014? Here's all you need to know so far from the New York catwalks
1. Alexander Wang is the new Marc Jacobs
The Wang runway has taken over from Marc Jacobs's as the show whose crowded bleachers provide an of-the-moment snapshot of who's who in Manhattan life. Kanye West, Courtney Love, Kerry Washington and Solange Knowles all cosied up for Wang at the weekend. Wang's stock is sky-high, now that he has the blue-chip Balenciaga job alongside his own label; meanwhile, Jacobs's show has moved to the back-end of the week, and has punctured its sceney-ness with punctuality.
2. Victoria Beckham is the new Diane Von Furstenberg
For decades, DVF has had the fashion industry eating out of her hand thanks to her peerless way with a quote about Being A Modern Woman, and her ability to back up aforementioned quotes with day-to-evening dresses that make you look hot and smart. This week, Victoria was chatting backstage about the "huge juggling act" of working motherhood, and singing the praises of her trompe l'oeil skirt-and-shirt dresses: "It's great to have something that you can just stand in, zip up and go."
3. No one eats anything remotely normal
Acceptable NYFW snacks: miniature lobster rolls at the Standard hotel or tempura green bean canapes at parties. (FYI: Alexa had deep-fried okra at her London book launch. Deep-fried vegetables are officially a thing.) On the whole, showgoers subsist on green juice, especially the kale kolada. Also, everyone Instagrams photos of cronuts. Do not be fooled by this: no one is eating them.
4. Rita Ora is now a fully fledged fashion player
As evidence: first, her assured catwalk finale at the DKNY show. It takes serious guts to follow Karlie Kloss on to the runway. Second, the prevalence on the catwalk and among the streetstylers of the Rita Crop, AKA the waist-length, loose top that shows just a couple of inches of flesh when paired with a skirt or a cute pair of skirts. The girl has influence.
5. Pastels are shaping up to be a 2014 trend
Sugary pale shades have broken out of the Ladies Who Lunch enclosure this NYFW. Pale pinks and blues opened Alexander Wang, and dominated the hip Creatures of the Wind show, while Ralph Rucci favoured peach, and got rave reviews in return. Prabal Gurung went so far as to make the case for favourite Nana-soap-shade, lavender.
6. The long loose dress is going to be a thing
When Victoria Beckham stepped out in front of editors, buyers and paparazzi on Monday she did so in a midi-length, cocoon-shaped, drop-waisted blue dress from her Victoria by Victoria Beckham collection. Not just that, she made a point of telling editors that she still felt sexy in it. At the Olsen twins' label, The Row, frocks were bigger (and better) than ever. Cheering news for those who prefer room to breathe (and eat) in their summer wardrobe.
7. Tennis is now the last word in chic
It had to happen. The influence of Anna Wintour knows no bounds, and everyone knows that Anna loves tennis as much as she loves Prada. This New York fashion week, the US Open front row was almost as glam as the shows: Justin Timberlake joined supermodel Miranda Kerr and actors Leonardo DiCaprio and Jessica Alba in the VIP seats for the final. Meanwhile, on the catwalk, a trend for pleated white skirts and front-row lust for the deep V-neck cotton sweaters at Rag & Bone nodded to retro on-court chic.
8. Tiffany could be poised for a comeback
If you haven't opened a little duck-egg blue box since your 21st, listen up: the brand is poised for a comeback. As if it wasn't enough that Harper Beckham sported a Tiffany diamond necklace this week, the brand announced the appointment of British jewellery designer Francesca Amfitheatrof as creative director. Amfitheatrof, who has created jewellery collections for Chanel and Marni, told WWD that she planned to "challenge the Tiffany customer" with her designs.
9. The skirt is your wardrobe's key piece
Still asserting your authority with a power jacket? Do try to keep up. The statement skirt, worn with a plain button-down shirt, is the modern way to do bold, dressed-up separates. Altuzarra, the latest label to have attracted investment from Kering – industry mothership behind Alexander McQueen and Balenciaga – made skirts split to the thigh the centrepiece of daywear for next spring. If your eye is drawn to the skirt first, that's a truly modern outfit.
10. Justin Bieber is reclaiming the Bieber fringe
Justin Bieber turned up at the Y3 show sporting a return to the signature swooshy side-flicked fringe with which he melted a million teenage hearts. Presumably, media rights surrounding a Nickelodeon-sponsored fringe-off between Bieber and Harry Styles at the next Teen Choice awards or similar are being thrashed out as we speak. Bieber is also sporting a nascent moustache, but rumours that he is getting a headstart on Movember are as yet unconfirmed.