The 12 Greatest Moments at New York Fashion Week Fall 2018

This season's New York Fashion Week lineup may have been missing a ton of big shows—plus the absence of Rihanna's Fenty Puma and Kanye West's Yeezy—but there were still plenty of moments worth noting. From models bringing back the runway twirl to Carolina Herrera taking her final bow and Cardi B lighting up the front row, here's a recap of all the Fall 2018 show highlights.

1. The Runway Twirl Makes a Comeback

Bringing that '90s supermodel fierceness back to the runway, Kaia Gerber whipped out an incredible twirl down the catwalk at Anna Sui—complete with the perfect hair flip and attitude. There was also some noteworthy twirling happening at Brandon Maxwell's Fall 2018 show. At a time when Fashion Week lacks some of its magic, this is a runway trend we'd be happy to see revived—watch and learn from Kaia's flawless execution in the above video.

2. Alexander Wang's Corporate Takeover

For his final show during the traditional NYFW calendar, Wang took over the old Condé Nast building at 4 Times Square with the "Alexander Wang Group." Merging together Working Girl with The Matrix, the runway was staged down a row of gray cubicles. Echoing the show's setting, the collection was comprised of '80s-inspired corporate looks and office-friendly attire (plus tights bedazzled with "CEO"). Typically known for dressing the downtown party girl and his wild #WangFest during Fashion Week, it was a swift departure to see the brand buttoned up and ready to take on the 9-to-5 life.

3. The '80s Are Back in Full Force

Power suits, colorful tights, the color magenta—the runways were infused with '80s overload. The decade of opulence saw a major revival in the form of strong shouldered silhouettes, dramatic earrings, and even the Working Girl look. Get ready for a glamorous dose of color and style next fall.

From left: Adam Selman, Marc Jacobs, Tom Ford, Alexander Wang

4. 10-Year-Old Drag Star Makes His Fashion Week Debut

Desmond Napoles, a self-proclaimed "drag kid," became the youngest drag star to walk NFYW at Gypsy Sport's Fall 2018 show. Napoles, who's best-known for his fashion and beauty-filled Instagram, is an LGBTQ advocate who created a drag house for kids who enjoy dressing in drag, just like him. The 10-year-old hit the runway in a black corseted look, white and black nails, and slicked silver hair—paving the way for a huge win for the LGBTQ youth.

5. Pussy Power Hits The Runways

In the midst of the Time's Up and #MeToo movements, one would have assumed more designers would use their Fall 2018 shows to make feminist statements, but only a few brands actually did. Kicking off the week, Tom Ford sent sparkling "Pussy Power" bags and pumps down the runway, adding a dose of female empowerment to his flashy, '80s dosed collection. Prabal Gurung, always one to bring activism to the runway, filled his backstage area with inspiring feminist posters, and staged a beautiful finale with models linking arms down the runway. He also invited #MeToo founder Tarana Burke to sit front row for her first fashion show ever. Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet, meanwhile, staged "Alice + Olivia University" for her Fall 2018 presentation. The spectacle included a "We The Women" Bill of Rights along with imagery of suffragettes as a backdrop to some of the looks. "By looking at the women’s movements past and present, I wanted this presentation to pay homage to strong women throughout history, to show how far we have come and how far we still need to go," Bendet said in the show notes.

6. Whoopi Goldberg and Cardi B Win The Front Rows

While this season's shows were star-studded with plenty of A-list-filled front rows, it was Whoopi Goldberg and Cardi B who stole the scene at the most shows. The rapper made appearances at Wang, Marc Jacobs, Christian Siriano, Prabal Gurung, and more—killing it with her front row style. Whoopi, meanwhile, enjoyed another season of shows—turning up everywhere from Ulla Johnson to R13 and Christian Siriano in a variety of statement-making shoes from zebra print clogs to hot pink pom pom shoes.

7. Chromat Wins For Its Truly Diverse Runway

Though many brands noticeably brought more diversity to the runways this season, Chromat took things to the next level with a truly diverse cast of models. Along with featuring several plus-size models, Viktoria Modesta, an amputee singer-songwriter, also walked the show while wearing a prosthetic leg. Making for another powerful moment, breast cancer survivor Ericka Hart revealed her double mastectomy scars while modeling a sheer, neon look down the runway. Featuring a multitude of races, sizes, and body types, Chromat's cast was an inspiring highlight of the week.

8. Carolina Herrera's Colorful Swan Song

Before handing over the creative reins to Wes Gordon, Carolina Herrera presented her final collection on Monday night. Paying homage to the designer's signature look, the finale was a colorful series of crisp white button-downs, taffeta ball gown skirts, and contrasting wide belts. It was a beautiful sendoff for Herrera, who has led her eponymous fashion house for 37 years.

9. Christian Siriano Celebrates 10 Years With A Stunning Show

Marking the tenth anniversary of his brand, Christian Siriano staged a blowout show featuring 72 looks and an endless amount of red carpet glamour. Staying true to his runways that celebrate all body types and races, the casting was diverse and also included the runway debuts of actresses Danielle Brooks and Selma Blair, along with Siriano's sister. The collection itself was filled with endless Oscar-worthy gowns, many of which will likely have a standout red carpet moment this season.

10. Wakanda Comes To New York Fashion Week

Bringing Black Panther to NYFW, Marvel Studios teamed up with seven designers to create custom looks inspired by the film's fashion. The designs were unveiled at a special "Welcome To Wakanda" event in the midst of the week, which was also attended by the movie's cast. All seven looks are currently being auctioned off on CharityBuzz.com, with proceeds being donated to Save The Children.

11. Calvin Klein Stages Its Show On A Bed of Popcorn

For Calvin Klein's Fall 2018 collection, Raf Simons covered the floor of the former American Stock Exchange building in a sea of popcorn. The snack design element, as it turns out, was not a fun and happy notion—but part of a darker collection that explored the history and future of America through a dystopian-like lens. From the set (which was comprised of three burned-down barns adorned with Andy Warhol paintings) to the collection itself, the show was a complex mashup of American identity and politics—making quite the statement during an otherwise tame week of show themes.

12. Marc Jacobs Closes The Week With '80s Drama

Ending the week on a note of over-the-top glamour, Marc Jacobs closed things with the ultimate '80s-inspired collection. Complete with dramatic, oversized silhouettes, sharp hats, and vibrant colours, the show was a larger-than-life culmination of the week's many '80s-inspired runways.

This article originally appeared on Harper's BAZAAR US.