Top 6 biggest moments from New York Fashion Week

In the blink of an eye, New York Fashion Week has come to a close. Six days of back-to-back runway shows, celebrity sightings, exclusive after-parties and early call times are enough to leave any fashion enthusiast exhausted.

And like any other Fashion Week in the past, the September 2019 shows were consumed with its fair share of standout moments, from intimate concerts to surprise guests.

Below, the biggest highlights from this season:

1. Rihanna's Savage x Fenty Show

Fashion Week ended with a bang thanks to Rihanna's highly-anticipated Savage x Fenty show on Tuesday night. The show was kept completely under wraps (phones were taken from guests upon entry at the venue), minus the release of four pictures, a brief announcement of its performers (Halsey, A$AP Ferg and Migos, amongst other names) and a Hollywood-packed red carpet.

Due to its size inclusivity and diverse casting, the show is being hailed as the new Victoria's Secret show.

"I don’t care about any skinny Victoria’s Secret model when I look at Parris. I want to be that woman on the inside. I want to feel that confident, I want to feel that bombastic… That is the Savage brand," Rihanna said in an interview while referencing the show's choreographer Parris Goebel.

The show which will be available to stream exclusively on Amazon Prime Video on Sept. 20.

2. Double amputee, 9, who made history on the runway

Perhaps the most inspirational story to come out of fashion week this season was the story of 9-year-old Daisy-May Demetre, who walked the runway for luxury children's line Lulu et Gigi Couture on Sunday. The UK resident was born with fibular hemimelia and required a double amputation when she was just 18 months old, but has defied the odds after becoming the first double amputee (that we know of) to walk in New York Fashion Week.

"Just never give up, and just do what you can do," she said in an interview.

3. Serena William's surprise appearance with daughter Olympia

The tennis champion returned to the spotlight on Sept. 10th following her US Open loss to present her S by Serena collection with a very diverse cast. Pals Kim Kardashian, Anna Wintour and Ashley Graham sat front-row to support Williams, who stepped out on the runway for the finale while carrying daughter Olympia, 2.

Photo: Getty

4. Sonja Morgan and Dorinda Medley's transphobic comments

Morgan and Medley attended the Garo Sparo runway show on Tuesday alongside other "Real Housewives" castmates when an Instagram video posted to Morgan's story shows the two commenting on one of the show's transgender models, Yasmine Petty.

“Well, with a body like that, it’s a guy,” Medley said

“Yeah, with a body like that it’s a guy, you’re absolutely right,” Morgan responded. The comments have been slammed as transphobic.

Responded Petty to Us Weekly, “During that show, as I walked down the catwalk with my head held high in who I am, a few women in the front row (who we’ve all seen on television) spoke hurtful, damaging comments, saying, ‘With a body like that, it’s a guy.’ In fact, that very moment was captured on social media and shared with the world.”

5. Prabal Gurung's politically-inspired runway show

The celebrated Nepalese-American designer used his 10th anniversary show on Sunday to make a political statement: Models dressed took the runway dressed in sashes that asked: "Who gets to be an American?"

“This is no longer about party lines, especially now with all the mass murders at the hands of domestic terrorists and white supremacists,” he echoed on Twitter. "Rather, this is a choice that one needs to make now. This is about choosing between two sides, the right or the wrong sides of the history.”

6. Janelle Monae's epic concert at Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren transformed a former New York City bank into his own 1920s-inspired "Ralph's Club" for his New York Fashion Week presentation. Although his clothes -- a feminine spin on the classic tuxedo and sequined floor-length gowns -- added to the Great Gatsby-like aura, it was Janelle Monae's incredible and intimate performance that was the highlight of the night.

With the help of a jazz band, the singer climbed on tables and chairs to belt out classic hits such as Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” and Nat King Cole’s “Smile.”

For more Fashion Week highlights, watch the video above.