Christine Chiu. Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

Whether she’s on screens in Netflix’s Bling Empire or sitting front row at runway shows in head-to-toe designer creations, Christine Chiu delivers full fashion moments everywhere she goes — and she always keeps things fresh and completely different time and time again.

During the New York Fashion Week Spring-Summer 2023 season, she brought a little bit of her Cali “easy breezy and chic” background to the Saks soirée with her Jonathan Simkhai off-the-shoulder crop top (above). There was her Harper’s Bazaar Icons party look, which evoked a “naughtier” side of herself in a Mônot strapless belted mini dress. She showed how she can be a “fashion history nerd” in archival Thierry Mugler at the Fashion Media Awards, and tapped into her “businesswoman side” in a silky purple Saint Laurent suit with lace bra — and that’s just naming a few looks.

“I love to play on a spectrum,” she tells GRAZIA USA. “I don’t like to be designated to one style or one vibe. I really feel like fashion should be fun and should be experimented with. It should be expressive of all of the moods that you feel and all of the vibes and different personalities that we exhibit at different stages in our lives.”

To create a range of looks to wear during NYFW, the Netflix star tapped two trusted stylists for assistance —  Micaela Erlanger and Nausheen Shah. “With the combination of those two stylists, I really think I played along that spectrum, from day to evening to street,” Chiu says. “Nausheen has more of the elevated street vibe and Micaela is very glamour, she’s very red carpet, and I feel that I can find myself on that spectrum. It’s always fun to not be the same.”

Christine Chiu. Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

She adds, “I think the collective [of looks] tells a deeper, more authentic story. I don’t think any one person can really be defined by any one outfit or one look. I love the fact that with NYFW I get to show all different facets of me.”

As a collector of couture, she’s been a staple on the scene at Haute Couture Fashion Week for years, but coming back to where it all began for Chiu (her first show was Carolina Herrera at the tents in Bryant Park) was special. “Especially this season, shows were all over town and I loved that. We could really truly take in not only the inspiration from the designers but also have this new found appreciation for New York City and its resilience and its vibrancy, especially post-pandemic.”

She continues, “I think one of the reasons why I love European Fashion Weeks so much is because you not only get to see the beautiful collections and the fashions and the artistry there, but you also get a little architectural lesson and education too because they’re held at such interesting and historical or architecturally-important venues. You get a blend of how fashion plays off of history and architecture and pop culture and how all of that melds together.”

Throughout the week she stopped by shows including Jason Wu, LaQuan Smith and Tom Ford, popped by parties and award ceremonies, then ended her week with a very fitting stop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Friends of the Costume Institute. “At the root of my passion for fashion is the acquisition, preservation, as restoration of fashion art and history,” Chiu says. “It was a beautiful and artful evening hosted by Andrew Bolton and the perfect end to an amazing NYFW.”

See how Chiu experimented with fashion and showed off the many different facets of herself throughout the week with her exclusive behind-the-scenes photo diary, below.

Helping Hands

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“A million thanks to the A team — Carolina Gonzalez (makeup) Henry De La Paz (hair), Elle Gerstein (nails). These are some of the real heroes of fashion weeks!”

Front Row at Fendi

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“I lived in the ’90s and early ’00s fashions and fortunately, collected a fair share of iconic Baguettes thanks to Carrie Bradshaw’s love for them. What a way to launch NYFW with the epic Fendi x Sarah Jessica Parker x Marc Jacobs x Tiffany and Co. show!”

Shining in Sheer

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Happy 25th birthday, Fendi Baguette! Linda, Bella, Kim and SJP, oh my!”

On the Way to Wu

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“What I love most about NYFW is the diversity in talent it consistently represents,” Chiu shares. “I cannot be more proud and honored to be dressed by and to support internationally acclaimed Taiwanese-Canadian designer, Jason Wu. Winner of the 2008 FGI Rising Star Award (a fashion board on which I served for several years), CFDA Fashion Fund nominee, and having dressed the former First Lady Michelle Obama on significant occasions, it was a must-see show for me.”

Focused on Fashion

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Jason Wu’s effortlessly chic and casual glamour hits all the right notes,” Chiu says, seated in the photo above next to Erlanger. “He is timeless and knows how to make an impact in the most discrete and memorable ways.”

Bopping Backstage

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“With the genius Jason Wu, thank you for representing AAPI community is such epic ways via fashion arts!”

Name Game

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Love a Christine x Christine elevator moment!” Chiu says posing with Selling Sunset star Christine Quinn.

Loving LaQuan

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Dressed by LaQuan Smith, I am backstage congratulating him on yet another fire collection! It’s not common we get to experience this perfect balance of strength and femininity in such a luxe fashion. The LaQuan SS23 is the definition of Queendom.”

Snack Attack

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Glamming and eating between shows — it’s the only way! It’s no secret that I have an affinity for pizza, burgers and fries and sitting in N.Y.C. traffic is the perfect time to enjoy them all.”

Strike a Pose

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“The Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards honored the cross section of talent in fashion, including Doja Cat, Gigi Hadid, Lara Stone, Karen Elson, Heidi Klum, Tim Gunn, Maye Musk, and Mel Ottenberg. Micaela and I chose an archival Thierry Mugler to pay homage to the late Manfred Thierry Mugler for his contributions to fashion via his iconic architectural and avant-garde designs, as well as his championing of age and race inclusivity in fashion.”

Tom Ford Front Row

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“At Tom Ford SS23, dressed and styled by Elizabeth Saltzman and Micaela Erlanger, next to my seatmates, newlyweds [and GRAZIA USA‘s new cover star] Nicola and Brooklyn Peltz-Beckham.”

Running into Friends

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Loved bumping into my old neighbor Nicole Richie — really missing her fresh chicken eggs!”

Fitting Final Event

Photos throughout by Ally Gille; Meraki House / Cibelle Levi; Thitaree Siriprayong

“Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Friends of the Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an organization I am honored to have been a part of for over a decade,” Chiu says wearing a Sally La Pointe gown with feathery sleeve detail.