L'OFFICIEL caught up with Natasha Lyonne as she kicked off NYFW at Veronica Beard's Icons party.&nbsp;

At New York Fashion Week, there are the clothes, the shows, and the endless after-parties&mdash;but few people capture the spirit of it all quite like Natasha Lyonne. With her sharp wit, singular style, and deep-rooted ties to downtown New York, Lyonne has been a fixture on the scene for decades. From stumbling into Marc Jacobs shows in borrowed T-shirts during the pre-social media days to trading stories with friends at this season&rsquo;s Veronica Beard Icons event in the West Village, she approaches Fashion Week with the same mix of spontaneity and substance that defines her career.
In conversation with L&rsquo;OFFICIEL at West Village's iconic Corner Bistro, Lyonne reflects on how the week has changed, why practicality always trumps tiny clutches and flip flops, and the people who make the whirlwind worth it.

Photography by Craig Barritt, courtesy of Veronica Beard.

L'OFFICIEL: You&rsquo;ve been a fixture at New York Fashion Week for years. How have things changed since you first started attending? Do you miss the pre-social media era?

NATASHA LYONNE: My friend Morris and I, we&rsquo;d go, and we just sort of stumble in right last minute. I think I still treat Fashion Week that way...There was no hair and makeup&mdash;maybe I&rsquo;d borrow a T-shirt at the last minute and stumble into the front row...There was no social media at all. It was just kind of show up, and I see pictures now and it&rsquo;s like, wow...None of us were taking pictures of ourselves or posting them. You&rsquo;d go down to the deli the next day, grab a coffee, and see on Page Six that you made it in.

L'O: You&rsquo;re known for your distinctive personal style. How does Fashion Week influence the way you approach what you wear during the week?&nbsp;

NL: I think you should always be dressed for anything that can happen. You&rsquo;ve got to be ready to hit the streets, walk for miles, or fall in love and suddenly be on a three-day adventure. That&rsquo;s why I can&rsquo;t stand tiny clutches&mdash;a bag should actually hold things. Same with shoes; you should be able to walk in them. They&rsquo;re supposed to protect you from the elements, which is why I&rsquo;ve never understood flip flops. They just seem like such a high risk.

L'O: With so many shows, presentations, and events on the calendar, what designers always stand out to you during NYFW?

NL: I like, you know, a staple, which is why Veronica Beard's stuff is so great. They are so classic for a true New York lady...l I like stuff that really kind of gets better with time, as opposed to feeling like disposable fashion. I don't like that kind of thing."&nbsp;

L'O: Beyond the runway, the after parties are a huge part of the week. What&rsquo;s your favorite thing about events like tonight's Veronica Beard event, and what do you tend to make a beeline for when you arrive?

NL: It's always the people. Anything I'm doing, it's always about the specific human beings that I get to make something with. So in any room, I'm always just looking out for somebody that I love, that I can't wait to see again. As the years go by, you make these connections with people.&nbsp;

L'O: As a true NYFW veteran, what advice or survival tips would you share with someone experiencing Fashion Week for the very first time?
NL: It really is about the people, and those are the memories that you kind of look back at along the way. I don't see those images from 20 years ago, and really think of it as 'you know, did I look good or not?' I instead remember how I felt in those moments.

Natasha Lyonne on the Chaos and Charm of New York Fashion Week

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