Marie Claire and Who What Wear Host Inaugural Fashion Week Cocktail Party

The VIP event kicked off NYFW 2026 with style, drinks, and industry mingling.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Marie Claire and Who What Wear co-hosted an exclusive Fashion Week cocktail party on February 7, 2026 to celebrate the start of New York Fashion Week. The VIP event, sponsored by BCBGMaxazria, brought together editors, digital personalities, and other fashion industry creatives at the popular Kabawa restaurant in the East Village. Guests enjoyed light bites, specialty cocktails, and networking opportunities before the hectic week of runway shows and events.

Why it matters

Fashion Week is a critical time for the industry, with editors, influencers, and brands converging in New York to showcase the latest styles and trends. This inaugural cocktail party allowed Marie Claire and Who What Wear to bring together their "fashion family" in a more intimate setting before the chaos of the week ahead.

The details

The cocktail party featured stylish guests in their best NYFW attire, including the editors-in-chief of the two hosting publications, Kat Collings of Who What Wear and Nikki Ogunnaike of Marie Claire. Guests enjoyed light bites, specialty cocktails like the sorrel daiquiri, and had the opportunity to be photographed with a Polaroid camera as a keepsake. Before leaving, attendees received a gift bag filled with fashion and beauty products from brands like Cakes Body and Knix.

  • The cocktail party took place on Monday, February 7, 2026.
  • New York Fashion Week 2026 ran from February 8-16, 2026.

The players

Kat Collings

Editor-in-Chief of Who What Wear.

Nikki Ogunnaike

Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire.

BCBGMaxazria

The presenting sponsor of the cocktail party.

Kabawa

The East Village restaurant that hosted the event.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to prep our attendees for the hectic week ahead, so before they left the party, guests received a little gift bag filled with Cakes Body boob solutions, Knix intimates, and more.”

— Aniyah Morinia, Author (whowhatwear.com)

What’s next

New York Fashion Week 2026 will continue through February 16, with runway shows, industry events, and celebrity sightings throughout the city.

The takeaway

This inaugural cocktail party allowed Marie Claire and Who What Wear to bring together their "fashion family" of editors, creators, and industry insiders in a more intimate setting before the chaos of New York Fashion Week, setting the tone for the busy week ahead.