Twice a year, a hurricane of fashion and trend descends upon New York City in the form of New York Fashion Week. Kicking off the week, amidst the runway shows and frenzied models, stylists and assistants running back and forth all over town, is an oasis of emerging talent, allowing for up and coming designers to showcase their creativity, their vision, and their collections on New York Men’s Day. The event started in 2010 and seeks to highlight rising talents in the fashion industry, providing the space and resources to do so during a week which would otherwise be out of reach. Brands shown focus on menswear and genderless collections, heralding androgyny and further blurring the lines of demarcation in the fashion world.

Victorinox is the title sponsor, and was on hand showing their latest in luggage and, of course, their latest watch collection, but more on that once the embargo lifts …

In light of this beautiful congregation of style and taste, I took to the show with the intention of seeing not only what the upcoming looks and themes of the designers of tomorrow are, but also what people are wearing right now. The answer to that question is a voluminous one: people are wearing anything and everything.

You see, over the past decade and change, fashion has become less restrictive, less hegemonic in terms of what is or isn’t in. With less focus placed on narrow guidelines of color and cut and more on personal expression, fashion is no longer a private club with a velvet rope that you either are allowed to fit into and, if not, better luck next season. It’s a liberating and egalitarian time.

We have seen the beginnings of a similar stylistic movement in the watch world, with rising calls for the de-gendering watches and a broadening of what case sizes are acceptable (and by acceptable, I mean available). Vintage, modern, sporty, dressy, 27mm, 47mm … it’s all good and allowed. Outside of the hallowed halls of horological hangouts — that is to say, the echo chambers of watch nerds — less emphasis is put on things like hype, rarity, or even price, though those elements still have some influence.

In terms of what watches are in, out, or otherwise, the lines are permanently blurred, the impulse of brands to “shrink it and pink it” gleefully dead. Small wrist? Rock a 47mm case. Big wrist? Bust out the 27mm time only dress piece with a diamond bezel. The main question is not, does it fit, but rather, does it speak to you?

Or better yet, what would you like your style, your watch, your fashion, to say to the world on your behalf?