Despite many gaps in the calendar and missing hits like Gabriela Hearst, there were still exciting highlights, surprising moments, spectacular backdrops, and fashion that was fun to see. There were also plenty of after-parties and glamorous events from Bulgari to Boucheron. Uniqlo used New York Fashion Week to celebrate the new creative director Clare Waight Keller, and also a Fashion Article published in Vogue.
Also, do not forget the star power and unforgettable locations! Ralph Lauren created his idyllic dream world in the chic Hamptons and guests such as Usher, Naomi Watts, First Lady Jill Biden, and Jude Law to a luxurious horse farm. Tommy Hilfiger welcomed guests such as Brooke Shields, Patrick Schwarzenegger, and Questlove to watch the sunset on board a disused Staten Island Ferry in the East River. And Mary J. Blige, Olivia Wilde, and Kerry Washington sat in the front row at Michael Kors.
New York’s greatest strength is and remains clear: uncomplicated fashion for reality instead of extravagant designs—and wearable serenity instead of creativity at any price. Designer Phillip Lim summed it up perfectly at the show for the 20th anniversary of his label “3.1 Phillip Lim”: “It was important to me to celebrate again why I moved to New York in the first place and decided to work in this crazy industry. To remind myself to have fun again.”
Toteme brings Swedish coolness to New York
To mark their 10th anniversary, the Swedish design duo Elin Kling and Karl Lindman sent their Spring/Summer 2025 collection down the catwalk in New York for the first time. However, the US runway debut was also a fashion homecoming. The two met in New York in 2010 and founded the label here in 2014, which is now very popular with minimalism fans. Quiet luxury meets Scandinavian coolness in the new collection: flowing silhouettes, straight cuts, and exciting details.
A cool tank top peeks out from under a transparent white wool turtleneck, the long sleeves slit open like a cape, and casually wide white trousers. But an unusually romantic side also came to the fore in this collection: delicate tulle, floral embroidery, and long sleeves in a bohemian style breathed a little warmth into the otherwise purist monochrome looks. In terms of color, delicate lemon yellow softened the black and white looks. “We have charged the ‘timeless severity’ of Toteme in this collection with a new sense of unimagined possibilities,” say Kling and Lindman. With just the right balance!
Rethinking at Proenza Schouler
The New York design duo Proenza Schouler looked back this season for Spring/Summer 2025 and at the same time made a start: They showed their new collection in a small, intimate presentation in their Tribeca Loft two days before the official start of Fashion Week. “We reduced our design language to the essentials last season. That’s why it was important to us this time to build on our codes of the past and interpret them in a completely new way,” says Jack McCollough. To be more precise: pleats and fringes made a comeback in their collection. Implemented with dresses in black, cream white, red, and purple, made of flowing fabrics, leather, and organza tubes.
Other eye-catchers were tops draped around the shoulders like scarves, worn with sailor trousers. The nautical influences were also unmistakable: marine stripes played a central role in the collection.
Holiday feeling at Ralph Lauren
On the evening before the official start of Fashion Week, the now 84-year-old US designer once again wowed his 250 guests with a spectacular backdrop and showed his new collection on a horse farm in Bridgehampton. About two hours’ drive from Manhattan, he created the perfect Ralph Lauren world: lush green meadows, endless blue skies, his vintage cars parked next to the stables, he had competition horses jumping over obstacles on a riding arena, and waiters dressed in white served lobster rolls.
The collection: the perfect looks for a summer getaway to the Hamptons. All-American with lots of white and blue, casual denim and linen, romantic crochet pieces and embroidery, cool tuxedos, US flags, and stripes upon stripes. The right outfit for every occasion: crochet shorts and top with a white trench for the beach, a casual denim tuxedo for a power lunch and long flowing dresses like an off-the-shoulder slip dress made of ocean blue sequins for the cocktail party by the pool. And a touch of the Wild West was not missing either: patchwork skirts, shirts and jackets, suede and fringes. The evening ended in a pop-up of his elegant polo bar in Manhattan, which was replicated especially for this evening on the horse farm in the Hamptons – best of both worlds!
Michael Kors sends Dolce Vita down the runway
The inspiration was unmistakable: Michael Kors sent Mediterranean romance down the catwalk: from nostalgic fifties silhouettes to the Dolce Vita coolness of the nineties – but with a new and modern twist! A tribute to the aesthetics of the new mini-series “The Talented Mr. Ripley” and to all the Italian artisans with whom he has collaborated for 35 years.
With the Spring/Summer 2025 collection, Michael Kors shows once again that he can do not only timeless and classic but also sexy and feminine. Lots of lace, floral embroidery, and belts that accentuate the waist. Tight shorts with a fitted, low-cut blazer. Or flowing lace skirts combined with masculine-cut shirts or blazers. Here and there, feathers and fringes dance playfully on dresses, skirts, jackets, and bags. Easy glam meets relaxed luxury in this collection.
Tone in tone at Cos
Cos’ successful style formula: clear, timeless, and without frills. Head designer Karin Gustafsson sent perfectly tailored essentials down the runway this season. The show took place in an old industrial hall in the Navy Yards in Brooklyn and showed once again how well the Swedish fashion chain fits in with New York. Voluminous coats, casual pants suits, and long dresses made of light fabrics in black, navy blue, and grey – worn mainly in monochrome. Every look is a hit for anyone who loves puristic elegance and curved lines.
Ahoy, Tommy Hilfiger!
Everyone knows: Tommy Hilfiger doesn’t do things by halves. In other words, his shows are always great cinema! And when they take place in New York, they are guaranteed to be a declaration of love for the city. This season, he transported the catwalk to a bright orange, disused Staten Island Ferry in the East River. With a direct view of the Brooklyn Bridge!
“The idea was to find a place that represents the city and is not one of the usual suspects. We wanted something iconic, but also unexpected,” says Hilfiger. That’s exactly what he achieved not only with the setting but also with his Spring/Summer 2025 collection! On the one hand, the classic Hilfiger college and preppy look: blazers in navy, peacock trench coats, khaki chinos with colored pleats, shirt dresses, and the obligatory stripes and colors – red, white, and blue. On the other hand, checks on trench coats, capri pants, shirts, and dresses as well as swinging and hand-knitted sweaters made of silk, cotton, or cashmere bring a fresh fashion wind into the collection. The sensational last place: the legendary hip-hop band Wu-Tang Clan, who created the ultimate New York feeling. Unforgettable!
Tory Burch shows her sporty side
Using bright turquoise tiles, Tory Burch transformed the atrium of the newly renovated Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn into a swimming pool with a spectacular view of the Manhattan skyline. And it wasn’t just the backdrop that made the New York designer seem to have caught Olympic fever, even when designing the new collection. Most of the looks featured athletic elements: tank swimsuits as tops, karate pants with drawstrings, and jersey dresses with contrasting shoulders reminiscent of American football.
Tory Burch’s official inspiration, however, was the appeal of opposites: “strength and grace, precision and freedom.” She combined boxy, puristic tops with long, romantically ruffled pleated skirts made of flowing fabrics. A lasting trend: belts with blazers. The surprising comeback on the catwalk: her legendary Reva ballerinas!
Aiming high: Coach shows on the High Line
The vision of head designer Stuart Vevers: rediscover American classics and be inspired by the energy of New York – with a sustainable design approach and the infectious optimism of youth! What does that mean for Coach’s new Spring/Summer 2025 collection? A contrasting program of navy blazers, “I Love New York” T-shirts with a vintage look, denim outfits, leather pieces, casual pinstripe pants suits on the one hand, and ultra-short, shiny satin cocktail dresses in pastel shades on the other.
The new “Soho” sneakers, leather caps, and biker jackets combined to create a cool contrast. Ella Emhoff, New York’s It Girl and stepdaughter of the possible future US President Kamala Harris, embodies the cool urban look perfectly: she wore a leather miniskirt and blazer underneath a vintage-looking “I Love New York” T-shirt. You can’t get more of a downtown fashion vibe than that!
Khaite presents amazing lightness
Designer Catherine Holstein has perfected the urban, profound, slightly dark cool-girl look in recent years to such an extent that her label Khaite has become the epitome of its own aesthetic. The lightness and delicacy with which the new Spring/Summer 2025 collection was revealed on the catwalk, partly airily and fluttering, was all the more surprising. Transparent, delicate fabrics, playful crochet pieces, voluminously draped dresses in white and pink. But the strictly cut blazers, black monochrome outfits, and casual leather looks that are obligatory for Khaite were not missing either. A collection that scores with wonderfully complementary contrasts.
Easy glam at Carolina Herrera
With a pink rose and a quote from painter Georgia O’Keeffe on each seat, creative director Wes Gordon set the poetic tone for the show: “I discovered that I could use colors and shapes to express things that I couldn’t express in any other way – things that I had no words for.” This was followed by a collection in which Gordon reinterpreted the typical Carolina Herrera aesthetic and her trademarks such as dot patterns and bright yellow in a fresh and modern way.
Ultra-glamorous looks, but never stuffy, always full of exciting contrasts and modern details. Sometimes feminine, body-hugging dresses with romantic embroidery, sometimes casual and sexy like a black XXL shirt with ultra-tight white shorts peeking out from underneath. It started with monochrome looks in black and white, like an elegant off-the-shoulder jumpsuit with a huge flower in the neckline. And the obligatory Herrera standards like wide skirts, accentuated sleeves and shoulders, oversized rosettes, and strong red and pink tones were not missing either. Colors and shapes that Georgia O’Keeffe would have loved.
The next Tibi summer will be airy and modern
“We are a down-to-earth label, but at the same time we always want to see how far we can go in the design process and still feel like ourselves,” announced Tibi designer Amy Smilovic before the show. As is often the case, the main roles in this collection were played by perfectly tailored pants suits, and two-pieces. Classic blazers, but with surprising details such as stand-up collars or crossed over with a bomber jacket.
The silhouettes: casually cut tops over airy, wide trousers and skirts. The colors: lots of classic blue, white, black, and complete looks in pastel yellow, bright red, and burgundy. Absolute eye-catchers: long, short-sleeved cut-out sheath dresses in black or white, constructed like a silhouette. The grand finale: two flowing, voluminous balloon dresses that dramatically wrapped around the body with every step and drew everyone’s attention. A collection full of timeless classics and new, exciting favorites!