21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW
A lot of work goes into this blessed mess.
During the half-hour period before VFiles began its seasonal runway show, I ran into a writer friend wandering around beneath the ultraviolet light. He explained that it was his first time at a fashion show, and that someone had cautioned him that VFiles "wasn't exactly like the rest of fashion week." That's an understatement.
Every year, among the tightly coordinated, 10-minute-long runway presentations that have fashion people zigzagging across the city, VFiles stages a grand performance, a glamorous storm that spotlights up-and-coming designers and rappers. This year, before a front row that included Tony Hawk and Sita Abellan, VFiles' runway featured new collections from Ottolinger, Kim Shui Studio, Hardeman, and Anton Belinskiy—four designers who represent a truly wide spectrum of the young avant-garde, from the most casual denim looks to fully tailored skirt suits with fur trim. Their stunning presentations elicited murmurs of approval and delighted laughter before it all turned, somehow, into a miniature Tyga concert.
We sent Gunner Stahl backstage to document how this blessed mess eventually comes together.
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/01_90341C1-R01-022_mbhzuv/rome-fortune.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/02_90341C1-R01-016_gv8klf/last-minute-adjustments-backstage.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/03_90341C3-R01-001_dc7a3h/last-minute-adjustments-backstage.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/04_90341C3-R01-003_uk6vju/anton-belinskiy-s-model-board.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/05_90341C1-R01-011_hcpio4/tyga-rehearsing.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/06_90341C3-R01-009_b8vqgh/vfiles-ss-16-backstage-photos.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/07_90341C3-R01-019_a5kwze/hair-sewing-backstage-before-the-show.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/08_90341C3-R01-002_vnzds3/hair-sewing-backstage-before-the-show.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/10_90341C1-R01-014_jblqls/vfiles-ss-16-backstage-photos.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/11_90341C3-R01-012_ptjurx/ilovemakonnen.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/09_90341C1-R01-024_1_rkrour/vfiles-ss-16-backstage-photos.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/12_90341C3-R01-035_dsuheh/hardeman-s-opening-models.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/13_90341C3-R01-015_r9ejud/the-xo-orchestra-left-and-kim-shui-right.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/14_90341C2-R01-015_n8kg3n/the-xo-orchestra-left-and-kim-shui-right.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/15_90341C3-R01-016_iznqgt/vfiles-ss-16-backstage-photos.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/16_90341C2-R01-033_hkocxp/hardeman.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/17_90341C2-R01-020_sy3hdn/kim-shui.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/18_90341C2-R01-032_uph5bo/hardeman.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/19_90341C2-R01-036_bpxe8i/hardeman.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/20_90341C2-R01-021_gzrzth/kim-shui.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_760,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:eco/21_90341C2-R01-023_zbshhz/kim-shui.jpg)
![21 Photos That Prove VFiles Is The Most Lit Show At NYFW](https://thefader-res.cloudinary.com/private_images/w_1440,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:best/90341C2-R01-007_xhm03e/lil-yachty-and-friends-backstage.jpg)