Freya Drohan: A week in my wardrobe

The thing I jokingly get asked the most is whether I have a body double because Instagram would lead you to believe that I’m always at an event! My best friend Sam has also taken to calling me “Michelle Yeoh; everything everywhere all at once”… but that’s the reality of working in fashion in New York. It never ever stops, and at no time is this more apparent than during fashion week, when sometimes there are a few lightning-fast Superman in the phone box-worthy changes required to get through a jam-packed day of shows, dinners, parties, and previews.

WEDNESDAY

AM

For a preview of the new Bronx & Banco collection with the designer, Natalie, and a few last-minute showroom visits in Soho, being comfortable but sharp is key. I love the length of this Alice & Olivia coat, which elevates my go-to, easy-peasy daytime uniform of a bodysuit (in this case, Wolford) and high-waisted wide-leg jeans (SLVERLAKE). Like Austin Powers’ Goldmember, I love gold, so you’ll usually find a Mr T-worthy piece or two in my outfits. This Lafayette 148 cuff, Zara chain belt, and black suede bag with gold hardware from Savette NY typically get a lot of outings.

PM

Dinner time! I have an evening ahead with Pandora, where I’ll also be interviewing new campaign faces Halle and Chloe Bailey, so I want something simple and stylish that makes me feel pulled together – a take on black and white tuxedo dressing always fits the bill for this mission. This waistcoat is from French Connection (I love the oversized gold button – very Jil Sander on a budget), and my silk black pants are super old from Express. Again, gold will usually come into the mix, and I adore this cuff from Brilliant Earth and Haute take on a foil lunch bag by Dries Van Noten. 

THURSDAY

AM

The madness is beginning! Ahead of the official kickoff of New York Fashion Week tomorrow, there’s a L’Agence presentation at Gotham Hall, Christian Siriano is hosting a runway show at The Plaza, I’ll pop to a party that the footwear brand Alexandre Birman is throwing, and then Puma will take over the Park Avenue Armory for a big-budget spectacle. If my energy is dipping, a chic suit will usually put a pep in my step. I’m very into the Slytherin green of this Maje set, and clearly, the star of the show here (apart from my dachshund, gorgeous George, peeking out) is this navy sequin Fendi Baguette that is, sadly, just on loan for a few days thanks to the website Fashionphile. My two necklaces are from the brands Dorsey and Miraco, and if anyone is looking for a great cocktail ring for less than €100, I really vouch for this sparkly Daphine London one. 

PM

Dinner with Neiman Marcus and House of Creed to celebrate their newest fragrance, Queen of Silk. Speaking of silk, at some point, I saw a gorgeous silky halter neck top with a rosette at the neckline and as much as I immediately wanted it; I couldn’t justify the price. Voilà, I found this H&M zebra number for $15.99 and figured I could cinch the neckline with a floral choker I had lying around. I’ve literally worn these black trousers from the Canadian brand Aritzia to several raves *and* several first dates: there’s little they can’t do! A black suede low-heel cowboy boot from Larroudè, a chunky gold bangle by Alexis Bittar, trusty Sauvette NY bag, and I’m good to go.

FRIDAY

AM-PM

Why does NYFW always start on a Friday?! I’m already ready for a rest! For today’s show schedule – Irish designer Maria McManus (if you’re not following, please do so immediately, she is so admirable in the sustainability space and the quality of her work is sublime!), Collina Strada, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, a missed attempt at making it to Willy Chavarria in Brooklyn due to rush hour traffic, Tommy Hilfiger, and Bach Mai – it’s a 13-hour day that requires zipping all over the city. I’m in a very old silk maxi skirt that my local alterations guy just charged me an arm and a leg to re-hem, my beloved Lucca belt from Khaite, an Alexis Bittar clutch, the same Alice & Olivia coat you’re about to see me wear all week, and flat cowboy boots from Oak+Fort. A great affordable and comfortable boot if you’re in the market!

SATURDAY 

AM

Slightly recharged after a good night’s sleep and an early morning Barry’s Bootcamp class with one of my best friends who’s in town from LA! Still, I’m not gonna run before I can walk today (I already did my treadmill sprints, after all) so I’m going to opt for comfort for the first half of the day as I’ve three shows to get to on foot – Cucculelli Shaheen, LAPOINTE, and Alice & Olivia. I love the stud details on these Reformation jeans, and this cosy Reformation knit polo in calming blue is just what I need. I like to have contrasting elements in all my outfits, which is how I landed on breaking up the very feminine Fendi bag and Chanel-esque Sam Edelman two-tone slingbacks with a tougher Western buckle belt from Artizia that nods to the silver studs on the pants. 

PM

I’m buzzing for Saturday night of NYFW (the PatBo show and a Gucci party in Soho) after my first cover as Maxim’s contributing fashion editor came out this afternoon, starring our one-and-only national treasure, Maura Higgins! Time to celebrate. This dress from Michelle Ochs’ debut collection for Hervé Leger just came in during the week and I’ve been dying to wear it. I’ve been really loving incorporating fringe detailing since being bombarded with it on all of the gorgeous runways last season in Milan. I’m teaming the dress with a black and gold envelope clutch from Alexis Bittar, needle-thin slingbacks from Paris Texas, and a cuff from Zara. 

SUNDAY

AM-PM

It’s Super Bowl Sunday… but more importantly, the Ulla Johnson show is scheduled for 10am at a hard-to-reach venue in Brooklyn. We all have our sports! I’d been thinking about this ME+EM dress since a preview last autumn – I mean, that regal Cadbury’s purple hue! The rosette detail! I love nothing more than an ultra-feminine dress, but I like to tone things down with other elements of the look. Ergo, an All Saints tuxedo blazer, a studded Isabel Marant bag, and you better believe there’s a cowboy boot under there as always. My ring is from a Ulla Johnson sample sale many years ago. Gotta support! This outfit will also see me through the Rosetta Getty presentation, the Jason Wu show, Kobi Halperin show, a Ganni x Mejuri cocktail party, and the Christian Cowan show uptown. By the time the Super Bowl actually rolls around, I’m, rightfully, in my pyjamas. There’s always next year! 

MONDAY

AM-PM

Today’s agenda includes an early morning presentation for the brand Kallmeyer (one to watch, for sure; the chicest New Yorkers are all fawning over this label), and shows for Naeem Khan, Coach, Retrofete, Sergio Hudson, Tory Burch, and LaQuan Smith, as well as a cocktail party the magazine I work for is hosting. I’ve totally forgotten I’m supposed to be documenting my outfits in the relentless schedule of today – alas, here’s a blurry pic I scrambled to take during a quick break at home in the evening. The chaos on my bed is an analogy for what’s going on inside my brain at this point. Back to the rule of contrasts… I really dig the ripped jean (American Eagle; highly recommended for my fellow pear-shaped folks) with the formality of a double-breasted blazer (this one is by Rebecca Vallance) and these chic lace mules by Loeffler Randall. A bit of bling for a Monday? Why not. I’ve called it in thanks to this JW Anderson ‘Bumper’ bag and a bangle from the recent H&M x Rabanne collab. 

*Pro tip from a seasoned bargain hunter: all of the designer bags that I’ve mentioned so far in this piece, I’ve sourced on Italist.com. Their selection is so much cheaper than what you’ll find at recommended retail price. The more you know, ya know? 

TUESDAY

PM

Thankfully there’s no photographic evidence of me skidding along the snowy sidewalks to make it to a few shows in my Timberlands, oversized Frankie Shop faux fur coat, and a baseball cap this morning. I ended up skipping a couple of things because I’m very behind on work and honestly, haven’t had time to shower. My boss can’t make it to a show uptown so my best friend joined me as my date for the evening which gave me a lovely boost of energy before I headed off to a Galentines-themed dinner with the brand Markarian and iconic NY boutique, Kirna Zabete at a Korean restaurant in my neighbourhood. I’m dressed in a Markarian sample from a recent resort collection, which will make its way back to their showroom tomorrow. I paired it with my treasured Manolo Blahnik Lurums – brave in the snow, I know – and I think this clutch is about 12 years old from River Island. Fun fact: The Happy Cobbler in Kilbarrack truly saved these satin heels for me on a visit home last summer, after they came home blackened and ready for the bin after I partied too hard in them for my 30th birthday. He’s a magician!    

WEDNESDAY

AM-PM

Happy Valentine’s Day lovers, and cheers to the last day of the NYFW obstacle course! Some of the shows I’ve been most excited for are happening today: Brandon Maxwell, Thom Browne, Alejandra Alonso Rojas, and Bevza. Plus, I know I’m finally going to break dry January with a well-deserved glass of wine tonight. One would have to include a bit of red in the outfit to celebrate, no? At this point, I’m hanging on by a thread so we go back to that tried-and-true formula of black and white. The MVP Alice & Olivia coat is broken out again, layered over this She Wolf shirt dress from Grover Rad (a really interesting and thought-provoking socially-conscious LA-based brand), perfectly-opaque 10 denier tights from Wolford (if you know, you know), knee-high suede boots from Schutz, earrings from Alexis Bittar, gold cuff from Lafayette 148, and my favourite conversation-starting red fuzzy clutch from Mark Cross. You best believe I’ll be cuddling into it as a pillow after that glass of wine hits! 

Imagery courtesy of Freya Drohan. We may earn a commission if you buy something from any affiliate links on our site.