Atiqa Dar is fast becoming a fashion week pro. The 26-year-old influencer and Singapore native attended her third New York Fashion Week this September, and she approached it with all the panache and savviness of a seasoned style veteran.
After flying into New York, Dar took two days to acclimatise before diving headfirst into the frenzy of the week, which included attending shows by Coach, Alice + Olivia, and Cos. Her days started bright and early with two hours of hair and makeup, and didn’t slow down until well after sunset. “I’d get dressed, do some fun GRWM content, and we’d shoot some videos and pictures on the streets of New York before attending the show,” Dar shares—cue an outfit montage set to Madonna’s Vogue. “After the show, we’d be pretty exhausted, so we’d quickly change out and [get] dinner at one of our go-to restaurants in New York. Some days, there [were] after-parties or pre-show dinners, but otherwise I’d head back to the hotel and get a good rest for the next early morning.”
Aside from a jam-packed schedule, this fashion season also brought a surprising sense of comfort for Dar. “Now, I’m more familiar with the brands and the people behind [them], which made this season feel a little more friendly and less daunting than when I first started,” she shares. “I felt more confident, more sure of myself [and] my identity as a Singaporean at Fashion Week. I felt like I was just being me and expressing myself for who I am.”
Those familiar with Dar’s online presence are also familiar with this authentic representation of her multi-cultural Singaporean background. As for how she brought this perspective to Fashion Week, Dar gave GRAZIA Singapore an exclusive, unfiltered look behind the scenes of her week among the New York style set. Read on to follow Atiqa Dar through a hectic week of fittings, shows, dinners, and uniquely New York adventures.
Dar’s New York Fashion Week started with approximately two hours of hair and makeup each day. The first look to tackle was for Alice + Olivia’s Spring/Summer 2026 show.
Among the bustle of Fashion Week, breakfasts were quick affairs in between engagements for Dar and her boyfriend, who made the trip from Ohio to keep her company. “This season, my boyfriend chanced upon this Italian bakery, Rosetta, on 42nd Street. They have some of the best pastries, sandwiches, and coffees. Never disappoints. We’ve been going there for breakfast right after hair and makeup.”
Following her cosy breakfasts, Dar would get dressed and head straight to the shows. “For Alice + Olivia, [I wore] a printed blue and black pantsuit just as is, without an undershirt, and it really flattered my frame. I recently cut my hair short and dyed it jet black, which gave the look a fierce feel to it—and I [added] a crystal headpiece which really tied it together.”
“I really enjoyed the Alice + Olivia SS26 presentation this year. This time, they held it at Surrogate’s Court, which was a change from the past two seasons. The outfits were a part of the decoration, which was so creative and maximalist, really embodying the camp-ness of Stacey Bendet. I am a maximalist myself, so I really liked it.”
Up next was Cos’s Fall/Winter 2025 show, for which Dar chose rosy eye makeup and loose waves.
The Cos Fall/Winter 2025 collection was a study in clean minimalism, and Dar’s look for the show followed the same formula, with a personal twist. “I went with a preppy minimalist look—very Cos, but also very me. I did my fitting in New York pretty last minute, so we had to come up with a look on the spot. I wore a white button-down from the men’s collection with a beige cashmere sweater vest and a cashmere checkered skirt. Of course, I had to accessorise it with long brown boots, a suede brown bag, a cashmere baseball hat—I know, it was so cute—and oversized tinted sunnies. [A look] isn’t me if there’s no accessories.”
The final show on Dar’s schedule was Coach’s Spring/Summer 2026 collection—and the night before, she attended a dinner hosted by the brand, joined by other influencers like musician and GRAZIA Singapore digital cover star Estelle Fly. Dar donned a bright yellow satin dress with a mini bow from Coach’s women’s ready-to-wear collection.
Dar’s approach to planning her looks was meticulous. “I planned my outfits on my iPad using the Freeform app, which is a wonderful app for me to brainstorm and form an outfit! For Coach, I did some research on Pinterest [and] made a little mood board to show my [hair and makeup] artist. I went for a bold red lip, bronzy face, and light eye makeup, and did [slicked-back] hair with a little lift on the ends for a chic and playful look.”
“I wore a vegan leather black miniskirt and white boucle jacket… and the classic shoe combo for a miniskirt—knee high black boots. It was a simple look, but my makeup and hair really took [it] to the next level.”
“Coach is playing with a lot of prints, textures and getting even more playful with the teddy bear-like bag charms, which is a trend they’ve been riding on for the last few seasons… I also got to meet Stuart Vevers after the show for a quick chat and photo op. I love that he’s really down to earth and welcoming.”
“It’s always a joy to come back to New York for Fashion Week. I hope to be back soon!”
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