Teen Vogue x Snapchat NYFW Body Party
During New York Fashion Week, Teen Vogue teamed up with Snapchat for the first annual Body Party, a celebration of diversity and individuality inspired by the publication’s 2016 video series of the same name. With an A-list lineup of stars, wow-worthy decorations, performances, and a fashion show, it was certainly a night to remember.
Upon entering the space, I first headed to get press photos taken of myself in front of an adorable background sporting the event’s name and playful doodles. For my outfit that evening, I opted for the Giovanna Jacket with sequin embellishment and faux fur lining from Ale by Alessandra x Revolve, paired with a Shirley Bag from Staud and nude pumps courtesy of Sam Edelman.
Celebrities started to pour in as the event kicked off, each stopping to take press photos as well. Notable stars who attended that evening were Lauren Jauregui, Ty Dolla $ign, Dinah Jane, Hart Denton, Peyton List, Sofia Wylie, Laura Marano, Jack and Jack, Nina Agdal, Luna Blaise, Larsen Thompson, and Yovanna Ventura.
With Lauren Jauregui
With Jack and Jack
Ironically, the most Instagrammable spot of the night was a giant swing shaped as the Snapchat logo, an expressionless ghost! Attendees made sure to take endless boomerangs swaying back and forth for their feed.
As the night progressed, guests wrote inclusive phrases in neon markers on a black wall. Some of the words that illuminated in the dark were “self-love,” “I love my thunder thighs!” and “my body is everything.”
After appetizers were passed around for a while (“chicks in a blanket,” aka chicken sausage wrapped in pastry, seemed to be the crowd favorite), it was time for the runway show. Former Fifth Harmony-member Dinah Jane opened the show with a powerful performance of her debut single “Bottled Up,” as well as an equally inspiring speech regarding the catwalk to come. “Teen Vogue wants to show that body positivity is not just a trend but a movement,” she declared. “It’s about style the way that it lives in the world...how to work with what you got.”
The runway show featured diverse ladies of different ethnicities, weights, ages, conditions, and quirks. Dressed in designer labels such as Diane von Furstenberg and Alexander Wang were curvy girls, skinny girls, and short girls, as well as ladies with curly hair, freckles, and even prosthetic legs. Women from all walks of life were represented, and diversity truly never looked so beautiful.
Backstage, models expressed to me how grateful they were for the opportunity to take part in such an empowering show that night. “It felt amazing,” said Diandra Forrest, the first female model with albinism to sign to a major modeling agency. “The way that the industry is going in the direction of diversity is really inspiring. It’s about time! I’m happy to see so much diversity in skin color and bodies on the runway.” Betsy Teske, the first plus-size model to walk the runway for Alexander McQueen, still sees room for improvement. “I think it’s very important that we should have more diversity in general, and being here is a good first step,” she explained. “[The next step] is to diversify all the runways. We need to have more colors and disabilities [represented]. Everyone is perfect the way they are...we shouldn’t have to change to be perfect.”
Once the night came to a close, I sat in the car cuddling my Snapchat ghost pillow I snagged as a souvenir and reflected on what had occurred the previous two hours. It seemed as if, for a brief moment in time, I was living in a judgment-free world. People hugged each other and chatted as if they were all friends, and we all cheered when someone manifested their diversity with confidence. Although I can’t say that a judgment-free world is possible at all times just yet, but after attending the Body Party, I can undoubtedly say that we are well on our way.
