New York Fashion Week

What Happens When You Lose Your Purpose With Claire Shay

by April Hooper

In life, we have the power to choose A LOT of things – our friends, our outfits, our goals – but Claire Shay, she got to choose something most of us had no say in: her name.

Claire Shay is a blogger, author, content creator, and influencer with a focus on living sustainably and dressing fashionably. Born in Taiwan, raised in Los Angeles, and now living in New York City, Claire has TRULY seen it all!

Growing up, Claire Shay always felt her Mandarin name just didn’t fit. She wanted something that represented HER, so she chose a new one: Claire. Even MORE powerful? As an adult, she has decided to change the spelling of her last name to “Shay”, marking a new beginning of exploring what she is truly passionate about.

December 3, 2020 by Ditch the Clique the blog

NYFW has changed, and that’s okay…

Just as I suspected in my How I Plan for NYFW blog post, fashion week looked A LOT different this season here in New York (and around the WORLD)! But GIRL I don’t necessarily know that that’s a bad thing. In fact, I can confidently say this is the most inclusive, diverse, and creative New York Fashion Week I’ve been blessed to be a part of!

October 1, 2020 by Ditch the Clique the blog

Why I Attend New York Fashion Week (& how I prepare)

If you’ve been here for sometime (thank you!), you know I’m a REAL fashionista. In fact, my love for fashion was the original inspiration behind this blog! For as long as I can remember, I wanted to inspire and empower REAL women (of all ages, races, sizes, and careers) to accept themselves, be themselves, and express themselves. And though this personal mission has since expanded from an exclusive focus on fashion into my brand, event series, and online community Ditch the Clique, I still accept any good reason to talk style! And with New York Fashion Week (NYFW) just around the corner, I can’t think of a better time to dive back in!

September 18, 2020September 8, 2021 by Ditch the Clique the blog

NYFW Fall/Winter 2020 Recap

And just like that, New York Fashion Week has come and gone (AGAIN!)

February is fashion month (I know, that happened fast right?) and I’m still on a high from last season! September’s NYFW was the VERY best yet, not only providing me the opportunity to attend a dozen INCREDIBLE shows, but it was a space to network with inspiring and empowering women in the industry, too!

And don’t worry, this season has lived up to the expectation AND MORE!

One of my FAVORITE things about NYFW…

February 18, 2020October 22, 2020 by Ditch the Clique the blog