Inside Chloe Fineman's Hilariously Chaotic New York Fashion Week: Carolina Herrera, More

Just like the characters she plays on Saturday Night Live, Chloe Fineman always finds what's light and what's funny in any situation, including during New York Fashion Week curveballs. The comedian-actor flew in from Italy the day before Carolina Herrera's Fall/Winter 2025 show on the last day of fashion week, but her flight was "insanely" delayed from weather, throwing a little chaos her way the night before.

“I couldn’t fit for Carolina until 10:45 at night, but my polka dress somehow fit like a dream. No tailoring. No notes. Just perfect!” the 36-year-old tells L'OFFICIEL. “Weirdly and luckily, having to get up at 6:30 in the morning to get ready for the show was perfect for whatever jet lag I might have had lingering.”

Fineman, who stayed at the Fifth Avenue Hotel in Manhattan's NoMad neighborhood, has been increasingly known for her style off-screen, including her penchant for elegant classics and recent closet sales. (She hosted the Met Gala in 2023, too.) It's no wonder Herrera's show was the one she looked forward to all week.

“I always love [creative director] Wes Gordon’s Carolina shows because it really gets to open your imagination and imagine actresses wearing his gowns for various awards shows,” she says. It is, after all, award season. “I also love how there are different groupings of patterns and fabrics and styles. It’s very transportive. It’s nice to have a dialogue with a show—and as an audience you get to dream about where the dresses might live"

But she also has a personal connection to the show, thanks to her 2022 sketch where she played con artist Anna Delvey (who also made some rounds at NYFW this season). When she played Delvey, Fineman "kept saying ‘Carolina Herrera’ in her accent. It sounded like ‘Carooliiiiina Halalala,’ which I was saying as I was getting ready for the show,” the comedian laughs. 

She's preparing for a major moment ahead of SNL's fiftieth anniversary and its special, set to air Sunday, February 16. She's been a repertory cast member on the show since 2021 (after a 2019 debut) and has left an indelible mark on its comedy.

Keep scrolling to see the star getting ready—with a makeup look by Lisa Aharon, hair by Joseph Maine, and styling led by Yael Quint—and read her full interview, where she reveals a peak behind the scenes of her fast-paced life, costume design at SNL, and time at NYFW.

L'OFFICIEL: How does it feel to prepare for such a major SNL anniversary? How will fashion continue to tell the story in upcoming specials?

Chloe Fineman: It’s such a dream to get to be a part of something so historic and especially such a New York institution. I am so beyond lucky, and we really are such a giant family. I worship our head of costumes, Tom Broecker, who has such amazing taste but also has been the brains behind so many iconic SNL looks. Like the Domingo sketch this year… he just knew to pick the perfect bridesmaid dresses. A month later, so many people were dressing as them for Halloween.

The Maybelline Sketch with Ariana Grande last year felt like such a fashion moment, too. Not to mention my fashion favorite “it-girl thanksgiving” where we came up with “turkey couture” for Julia Fox. Sam Bennet, one of our designers, literally made couture but turkey. And Julia was there and totally approved! Fashion and comedy magic! 

L'O: Do runways and street style inspired your own wardrobe after being out and about?

CF: Oh yes! I think the other best part of runway shows is watching the models change into their perfect street style after the show. Did you catch the Chanel girls after the couture show? I took so many notes. And after Carolina’s show, I was like, “Okay, perfect boots. Okay, loose jeans. Yes purses!” Street style should be elevated, and no one does it better than the models. 

L'O: Are you an after-party girl or going to bed during fashion week?

CF: Well, I’m exhausted but off to a Vogue party, so I will say, just go to the party. You never know who you will meet! And does anyone really go to bed early during fashion week? 

L'O: What's your favorite NYC spot to grab a drink in between shows?

CF: I’m going to say candy instead… I’ll order a little sweet treat from BonBon between shows because Swedish candy just truly helps you get through fashion week! Dare I say it’s an essential.

L'O: What's your favorite beauty look to wear to a show?

CF: This week, maybe because of being abroad the week before, I really like ‘60s Riviera glam. I’m refusing to acknowledge how cold it is outside, so I love blown out hair and a sexy eye [so that], for a brief minute, I can still feel like I’m on vacation. A must-have for me is Armani mascara and fake lashes. I think every makeup artist I work with and I all agree Victoria Beckham’s eye liners are incredible… as well as the Makeup by Mario eyeshadow palette in cool tones. Just gorgeous!