Text by Editor-in-Chief, Maya Davila. Photography by Executive Editor, Adriana Bolaños.

FOR this fall, FANTASY WAS all the rage. 2LATE PRESENTS: VENUS & TOKYO X Markette NYC’s “CARNIVAL” extravaganza.

New York Fashion Week—where a mecca of independent artists took precedence this fall.

Much discourse has arisen in the fashion community about the supposed ‘fall’ of NYFW. Between ‘big’ names that have moved elsewhere (hellooo Paris!), those who have distaste for the continuous rise of influencer culture, and the oversaturation of a ‘clout-forward’ mindset…perhaps we are sick of being fed the same, repackaged narrative season after season.

For artists who continuously strive to cherish the New York tradition of exploring what strikes curiosity, one may discover there is momentum this time of year brings. The highest embodiment of self-expression took center stage this season.

During fashion week, 2LATE captured Venus in Tokyo’s collaborative one-day event, co-hosted with Markette NYC. Venus in Tokyo, founded by Jess Parsons and Jordan Figueroa, is a Brooklyn-based curatorial boutique with a neo-etheral theme across jewelry, art, and fashion. Markette, founded by Katrina Taeza, curates pop-up events across NYC, highlighting POC, queer, and femme artists. Truly, the perfect marriage of fun, interactive community-building through the lens of fashion!

Fantasy transforms. It transcends, creates pockets of imagination, and feeds one's desire to become part of a world that invokes the momentary escape from our reality.

Fantasy truly was the word on everyone’s lips.

Katie wears: @mydearestworld jewelry, @synph17 top, @_faeble_ and @nausicaa_nyc skirts, and @doublestandard.nyc shoes.

ChiChi wears: @dollydearboutique jewelry and a curation of Venus in Tokyo boutique items

The day began with a performance by ChiChi (above right), a Lower Manhattan native whose influence comes from her bi-cultural Japanese and Irish heritage. Her aura screams a true, rising pop princess and is a testament to who the Carnival girl is—fierce, unapologetic, and bold.

Carnival continued to bless our senses with a transcendental styling spectacle. Models were adorned head-to-toe with boutique-curated items styled by the owners themselves, with hair done by @mari4l3jandra, makeup by @mulletxbarbie and @imdaddydoll, and nails provided by Tokyo-based artist @risakoarai_. Models could be spotted throughout the venue, dancing with one another, interacting with guests, and creating cotton candy, as they lured us down the rabbit hole of Carnival’s wonderland.

Carnival was a labor of love. A love for untraditional artists, a love for the freedom of self-expression, and a love for the creativity that this beautiful city has to offer.

New York offers a revolving door of inspiration; it pushes us to create, to show up for our friends, and to never stop dreaming. Carnival brought energy, playfulness, and magic, which reminded us of our truest intentions for fashion week: to support our community!