Todd Snyder and Steven Kolb Kick-Off New York Fashion Week With a Toast to CFDA Members

Fashion month has officially commenced, and to kickstart the festivities, Todd Snyder and Steven Kolb hosted a cocktail hour at the downtown bistro Frenchette to celebrate the CFDA members presenting their Fall/Winter 2024 collections at New York Fashion Week.

The Tribeca hotspot was alive with ​​animated conversations and the clinking of Champagne flutes as fashion friends were reunited before their big reveals. Designers in attendance, such as Thom Browne, Joseph Altuzarra, Tanner Richie and Fletcher Kasell, among others, were in the throes of final preparations for their upcoming presentations, ​with a mix of anticipation and joy lighting up their faces. With back-to-back shows, late-night after-parties, and never-ending events, Fashion Week may often feel like a whirlwind of activity.

To soothe the pre-show nerves, Bach Mai, who was set to present their collection the following evening, shared with Vogue that his pre-presentation routine includes fueling his team with a hearty meal—family style, of course. “We always try to have fried chicken the week of the show,” said Mai. “It’s something I remember doing when I was working at Margiela, and it’s just a fun way to keep everyone fueled and happy.” Others have a more relaxed approach to settling the Fashion Week jitters. “I like to take the mornings for myself,” said Alejandra Alonso Rojas. “I do a little bit of meditation and some yoga, and just breathe it all in to push through the day.”

As attendees—including Aurora James, Rickie de Sole, Roopal Patel, Chris Appleton, and more—finished sipping on their fizzy cocktails and bubblies, it was evident that last night’s gathering of creatives was an exciting prelude to the stylish spectacle of New York Fashion Week.