Most Wanted

For lovers of fashion, the arrival of fall is signaled by the start of New York Fashion Week. It’s where we find inspiration not just for the forthcoming season, but for what to wear as the seasons start to shift – and the city’s street style is a masterclass in day-to-dusk dressing. For those on the front row, there’s little time for an outfit switch-up before dinner, so each garment packed in a suitcase needs to offer ultimate wardrobe mileage.

This season, Proenza Schouler makes a case for not compromising. The Manhattan brand’s cotton-jersey shirt updates the boardroom-ready button-down with a retro graphic and neat waist-tie belt – its supple fabrication doesn’t just make it comfy, but offers a crease-free packing solution that is ideal for days spent on the go. That’s why it caught the eye of PORTER’s acting head of fashion content, Chloe Street, for fall.

“Having reliable pieces that feel practical enough for day and playful enough for night is key – and this shirt from Proenza Schouler ticks all those boxes,” she says. “It’s a refreshing alternative to my usual blue cotton shirts, and can be worn just as effortlessly with jeans as a mini skirt.” As temperatures plummet, Street imagines layering the shirt over a fitted turtleneck and wearing with knee-high boots to “amp up the ’60s mood”.

Right now, though, she plans to pair it with Tibi’s high-rise jeans. Designer Amy Smilovic is all about practical and polished dressing, and the sculptural proportions of these ecru jeans are a nice nod to tailoring that elevates this everyday essential. For daytime, Khaite’s scintillating ballet flats are ideal for walking around the city, before changing it up in the evening with Gabriela Hearst’s classic ankle boots. Also consider Khaite’s oversized biker jacket, which is a versatile layering piece when the dusk chill sets in.

Of course, no New York Fashion Week wardrobe would be complete without a hard-working handbag in which to store the day’s essentials, and no Manhattan brand does it better than The Row. This slick suede bucket bag is capacious enough for all your sacred possessions, so slip in a heavenly fragrance from Le Labo and some retro tinted shades by Tom Ford to provide the perfect afternoon pick-me-up.

Browse this week’s New In.