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For many, the beginning of a new month signifies the follow-through of well-thought-out resolutions and wardrobe preparations for a new season. Still, for us at Vogue, the beginning of February means only one thing: the dawn of New York Fashion Week. The week-long (give or take a few additional days) officially begins today and consists of hectic days spent going from Central Park to Brooklyn to attend shows, and evenings spent at bustling after-parties, dinners, and events. While exciting, and glamorous in many cases, this time of year can also be exhausting and overwhelming. But, that’s where solid wardrobe essentials, hero beauty products, snacks, and more come in to save the day. To survive the unnatural chaos, the items that Vogue editors consider a part of their New York Fashion Week Survival Guide may be essential to fashion week, but can also be used for any busy schedule and stressful situation you may find yourself in. You never know when you’ll need an emergency chocolate bar, metal scrunchie, or immune support, am I right?
Vogue’s NYFW Editor Must-Haves:
- The Refreshing Face Mist: Lesse Regeneration mist, $58
- The Pocket Blush: Rhode Pocket Blush, $24
- The Sweet Treat: Smartsweets sweet fish, $33
- The Power Up: Anker Nano Power Bank, $26
- The Comfy Sneakers: Converse Chuck 70 high-top sneakers, $90
- The Everyday Shades: Gucci rectangular-frame sunglasses, $625
- The Needed Lip Balm: Dr. Barbara Sturm lip balm, $55
- The Touch-Up: Clé de Peau Beauté SPF concealer, $75
Fashion week is a marathon, not a sprint. So, it’s important to focus on the essential items that will help get you to the finish line. Practical footwear is always top of mind. Whether you slip on a pair of ballerina flats or colorful Sambas, your feet will thank you later. (And when they don’t, having bandaids around is always a good idea.) Another clutch move? Always have a pair of sunglasses nearby. The early days of February can bring snow, rain storms, and wind gusts, so having cold-weather layering techniques down is a must, as well as a pair of chic sunnies to hide behind. Preparing for low-battery mode or a sweet tooth craving between shows is also important—you’ll find both candy and portable iPhone chargers in our handbags.
On the beauty front, adding a little color to the lips can change the mood, which is why you’ll find a trusty lip balm or gloss (or both!) in almost every bag. For a quick touchup on the go, opt for a multi-purpose stick like the viral Rhode pocket blush. Of course, having a trusty and stylish tote bag that fits all of your fashion week needs is a must. Consider investing in a timeless option from Coach, or go full fashion with Balenciaga.
As the fall 2025 collections unfold, rely on our Vogue editor-approved New York Fashion Week survival guide to ensure you’re ready to tackle one of the most hectic weeks of the year. And please, try to let go of the sky-high heels—it s snowing!
Nicole Phelps, global director, Vogue Runway and Vogue Business
Electrolytes are my fashion week “drug” of choice, and I think Liquid I.V.makes the best. Sticking with the well-moisturized theme, I like to keep a little tin of Burt’s Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream on hand, especially during the February shows. And for a quick pick-me-up, I dab some Joy on my wrists. Its blend of ylang-ylang, geranium, jasmine, palmarosa, rose, bergamot, lemon, and tangerine essential oils works as advertised: in the front row, on the subway, or wherever.
Chloe Malle, Vogue.com editor
Red Dye 3 may be banned but nothing will keep me away from Nerds Gummy Clusters or BonBon rambo gummies! The Rhode blush and band-aids still stand! I’m never without a Burt’s Bees in my bag. My husband and I actually keep two on our person at all times: one original peppermint and one coconut for my discerning toddler who says the peppermint is “too prickly.”
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Libby Page, executive shopping director
During fashion week, you need simple things that can work hard to get you through busy days and these are my fail-safes. I keep my make-up simple, there is nothing worse than it melting off your face during the day and these items allow me to quickly touch up without a mirror to hand (I should probably add a pocket mirror to this list!) and a notepad, my brain works overtime during NYFW and this helps me stay organized amongst the chaos!
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Naomi Elizée, senior fashion editor
In true New York Fashion Week style, I barely have time to think—that’s when I reach for the true essentials; emergency chocolate, lip gloss and balm, an all-day fragrance, and my eye drops.
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Madeline Fass, senior shopping fashion market editor
During a February edition of New York Fashion Week, cold weather essentials are a must. Tissues, leather gloves, and lip balm are always on hand. The rest is what you can find in my bag on any given day, sunglasses (often two pairs), my Officine Buly comb and Leonor Greyl styling cream (both are travel size!), and a brow brush. A small zip pouch is the best way to never forget your belongings when switching out your handbags, which I often do during the shows.
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Willow Lindley, fashion market and collaborations director
Two things keep me going during fashion week—this amazingly powerful portable charger and the promise of changing into sneakers when the running around starts to hurt!
Talia Abbas, senior shopping editor
The need for lip balm and hand cream is constant during the winter. You’ll always find both in my handbag at this time, including tissues, which I keep stored in a handmade lace card case that was personalized for me. The chocolate’s for me or one of my coworkers—whoever’s cravings hit first! Extra accessories, like a patterned scarf or statement hair tie, always come in handy, and these take up no space at all.
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Cortne Bonilla, senior shopping writer
My friends always joke that my everyday tote or handbag is like Barney’s magic bag—endlessly supplied with just-in-case items that always, always end up being needed, by someone. I’m an Aries (and run hot 24/7 despite it being winter), so my bag is usually stocked with a setting powder to absorb my fast-moving energy. When there’s zero time for food, I look to Methodology—a meal service that crafts the tastiest, healthiest prepared bites for busy weeks. Since it’s February and the air is harsh, I make sure to keep hand cream and lip balm prepared as well. Everything fits in the Coach Empire bag perfectly.
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Kiana Murden, senior beauty commerce writer
I’m a simple girl. To get through NYFW in one piece, I just need a giant tote bag featuring a smaller pouch that holds everything I could ever need for an entire day. I’ve gotten it down to a science. Basically, I keep a sleek cosmetics pouch—like my lovely Khaite Lina Pochette—stocked with an array of lip products; the most important of which is Make Up For Ever’s liner in shade Limitless Brown. I’ve also been taking a tube of Merit’s The Minimalist stick with me everywhere—it doubles as a concealer and foundation. Victoria Beckham’s dual mirror compact is equally as essential to ensure midday touch-ups. The remaining space in my pouch is left for a travel vial of Diptyque perfume (Eau Rose is my current favorite), my favorite Poppy Lissiman shades, and something for immunity. Armra’s colostrum is tasty, easy-to-mix, and effective.
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Christian Allaire, senior fashion and style writer
My gray Balenciaga City bag is my go-to during NYFW—it’s just roomy enough to fit all of my chargers, water, wallet, etc. When it comes to fashion week, I like to zero in on a steady uniform, so this season I will be wearing my new Levi’s flares (vintage) and my Bottega square-toe loafers on repeat.
Irene Kim, production and editorial associate
The worst part of NYFW is that there ’ barely any time for me to grocery shop or actually eat nutritious food. I often skip lunch or order unhealthy takeout food and eat at odd hours, which isn t good for my health. But this season I’ll be doing the Sakara Life plan for NYFW so that I at least don t have to worry about my meals. All I”ll have to do is unwrap my delivery box on Sunday night and have my breakfast, lunch, and dinner ready to go so I’m hoping that this will help keep me energized and ready to go during the toughest week of the year!
In my bag I always keep a face mist, my favorite is the one from Caudalie, because there s nothing worse than dry and flaky skin. By misting your face in between shows, you not only get glowy-looking skin but it also kind of helps to wake you up. And I never leave the house without my Sonos headphones, they have a noise canceling on and off feature so when I need to lock in and write my reviews, I can tune out the rest of the world no matter where I am.
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Florence O’Connor, associate content manager
I spend most of fashion week sitting at my laptop working so my essentials revolve around being as comfortable as possible while still trying to look somewhat presentable. For me, a chic wide leg pair of jeans is a must, along with a big water bottle for hydration and a cute hair accessory to distract everyone from how many days in a row I’ve rocked a slick back ponytail.
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Hannah Jackson, fashion writer
I would never voluntarily run a marathon, but I do think fashion week is the closest I’ll ever get. (I know, I hear myself.) But when you’re running around all week long, you’ve got to focus on basics. I’ve learned a lot of lessons the hard way when it comes to NYFW and that’s why you’ll never catch me without a snack for low blood sugar emergencies, Band-Aids (I still have a scar on my ankle from my first fashion week), and mints out of fear of offending my seatmate with my coffee breath.
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Laura Jackson, shopping writer
The contents of my fashion week bag must be multipurpose. For example, I can swipe on Rhode’s cream blush on my cheeks and lips for a mid-day pick-me-up or shield my eyes from the week’s late nights and bright winter sunshine with Khaite x Oliver Peoples sunnies. And while this doesn’t necessarily fit in my Khaite python-printed handbag, Omnilux’s LED face mask acts as a bit of well-deserved self-care after such a busy few days.
Taylor Lashley, social media manager
Aside from a good coat and comfortable boots, I’ll be leaning on my Proenza Schouler PS1 this season to carry all of my fashion week necessities. I can’t leave the house without a portable charger or my trusty wired headphones as I’m constantly editing content as I commute between shows. You can also always find at least two (if not five) lip products and a face mist on me, because hydration is everything, especially during the colder months. Lastly, I like to have a fragrance on me to freshen up on the longer days and Jil Sander’s new scents are everything.
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Madeleine Schulz, Vogue Business reporter
I live and die with Lucas’ Papaw ointment for chapped lips. (Ask any Aussie, it’s magic and fixes everything.) Especially during February fashion week when we’re running around in the windy cold, it’s a lifesaver between shows. I love New York for its sunny winters, so I always have a good pair of sunnies with me as well. My classic black Celine oval frames or Ray Ban wayfarers go with everything. And this season, my newest addition to my NYFW essentials is a little Besa cashmere headscarf. The Noir, again, goes with any outfit and will keep me warm when I’m speed-walking from show to show.
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