What We Loved at New York Fashion Week

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The wrap-up for New York Fashion Week has arrived, and it seems your social media feeds are filling up with fashion snapshots from various locations around the city (take a peek at ours if you haven’t already). Kicking off the week, Todd Snyder took menswear enthusiasts on an uptown journey to the Academy Mansion for a stylish beginning. Meanwhile, in Chelsea, Christian Cowan unveiled a dress crafted from bubblegum, and Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada showcased a complete “Fempire” with bug-eyed sunglasses and runway kissing sessions. As we ventured down to the Financial District, Luar’s bold fashions marched through a corporate office building in drag. In Brooklyn, Christopher John Rogers made a vibrant comeback to the New York calendar. Lastly, at The Shed in Hudson Yards, Thom Browne’s whimsical runway proved that New York Fashion Week is anything but deceased.

Briefly, New York’s Fall 2025 season left attendees occupied and engaged. Amidst the bustle of the U.S. fashion hub this week, these are the highlights that captured our attention the most.

Perfect Pairs



I’ve noticed an intriguing evolution in the world of fashion this season, especially during international Fashion Weeks. Instead of models strutting the runway alone, we’re now seeing pairs walk side by side. These duos span a spectrum – from romantic partners to platonic friends, and everything in between or outside that category. It’s a refreshing change that adds a touch of camaraderie and diversity to the traditional solo catwalk.

At Collina Strada’s fashion show, two brides walked hand in hand on the runway together, sporting upcycled white wedding gowns. They paused halfway for a shared photograph and exchanged a romantic kiss before continuing their walk down the catwalk, playfully skipping along. In a similar vein, during the Elena Velez show, one model portrayed a shadowy woman who weaved around the intricate set, while her enamored partner followed closely behind, completely mesmerized by her.

During the final show of the week, Thom Browne brought together two groups of models, symbolizing the entwined lovers at the center of the runway. The initial pair of parka-enshrouded models opened the spectacle, seated on a stacked desk where they folded origami flyers. In contrast, another duo of models with colorfully accentuated eyelashes wore blazers and synchronizedly strutted the catwalk. To culminate his show, and New York Fashion Week as a whole, Browne continued to express love, presenting a rose to his spouse Andrew Bolton.

Fleeces Are Back at Sandy Liang

 

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Six years ago, Sandy Liang’s coveted cheetah print fleeces were famously dubbed as “the hottest jacket in menswear” by GQ and played a significant role in establishing the brand’s trendy downtown image. This season, the line introduces an updated range of corporate outerwear designed for the creative agency office job that every Sandy girl aspires to have, though it may not be fully realized yet.

The latest version of fleeces presents a variety of styles such as pink zip-up vests reminiscent of Polly Pocket, matching quarter zips, mini skirts, boxy cropped greys with an ’80s feel, and long tunic fleeces for those who enjoy transitioning from day to night.

All Fashion Heroes Wear Capes




As a secretive gamer, I found myself intrigued by the covert experiments of some designers for the Fall/Winter 2025 collection. Instead of sticking to traditional attire, they dared to incorporate capes, ranging from elegant drapes over suits and tailored jackets to an eclectic mix of models gracefully strutting down the runway with capes in tow. In Veronica Leoni’s debut for Calvin Klein, she adorned several looks – both menswear and womenswear – with weighty, monochromatic capes. A sleek black cape was strategically placed over a long trenchcoat of the same hue, while later on, Leoni paired a pleated cape with an all-black women’s work jacket.

At 5000, just like Taylor Thompson, they experimented with the accessory. Models initially strutted down the runway carrying cloaks over their heads, only to later discard them, revealing that instead of being separate capes, these accessories were actually attached as trailing pieces to a pair of trousers.

Todd Snyder’s Lesson in Class

 

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Todd Snyder’s Fall 2025 menswear collection was presented at the Academy Mansion on the Upper East Side, showcasing designs as sophisticated as the venue itself. Inside the impressive 1920s structure, celebrities like Brendan Fraser, Aaron Tveit, and Antoni Porowski sat in antique chairs, elegantly dressed in Todd Snyder formal wear. Curators and menswear influencers served as living embodiments of the brand’s unique style. Brooklyn DJ Jivan Calderone added a modern touch by spinning music for the show on a large marble platform. The atmosphere was a testament to class, mirroring the collection of 65 looks that followed shortly after.

As a gamer, I’d say in this gaming world, they decked out the characters with opulent velvet, silk brocade, and cashmere, painting a vibrant color scheme of emerald green, aubergine, petrol blue, and rich brown tones. In the lineup, navy herringbone Eisenhower jackets, coated cotton trench coats, denim blazers, and mohair sweaters matched up nicely with double-pleated wool pants, flannel chalkstripe trousers, and linen-cotton shorts.

In the designer’s creative mind, these outfits spark intrigue – whether they’re for a jazz musician off to perform at Le Bilboquet or a French workman enjoying pinball at the tabac (two additional sources of inspiration that found their way onto Snyder’s mood board).

Bugging Out at Collina Strada









Hillary Taymour’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection left us spellbound, but it was her innovative accessories that truly stole the show this year. In her “Fempire” range, Taymour played with the daring eyewear trend to infuse a touch of mystique into the season’s ensembles. The edgier looks were paired with bold, oversized sunglasses featuring striking bug-eye designs.

At a glance, a model sets his spectacles on top of a pink lace balaclava. Following the philosophy “Shine brightly, be the star you are,” some models donned glasses adorned with star-shaped headpieces. Remarkably, one bride accessorized her ruffled white wedding dress with a pair of white sunglasses.

Fur Is Out, Leather and Feathers Are In










This past year saw an unexpected surge in excitement for fur on the catwalks, but this current season is expressing affection for leather and feathers instead.

Campillo launched its first New York Fashion Week collection this week, showcasing robust leather outerwear, a sculpted leather scarf swept by the wind, chaps, and a finale jacket crafted from phoenix-like feathers. Christian Cowan concluded his line of elegant evening wear with minimal feather embellishments and intricately designed pieces.

At Luar, I found myself captivated by Raul Lopez’s unique blend of refined wool workmanship with intentional chaos. His models were accessorized with feathered brooches and intricate feather headpieces that offered a delicate counterpoint to the heavier leather and recycled fur pieces that confidently strutted down the runway. Other models showcased feathered handbags and belts adorned with jewels and trinkets, reminiscent of a hidden treasure one might discover within a bird’s nest.

wrapping up the week, Thom Browne’s catwalk showcased 2,000 origami-style birds, culminating in a birdcage encasing a miniature namesake piece. Browne has often utilized this theme, referencing Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” as inspiration for his Fall/Winter 2024 collection. In this season, the models’ eyelashes were adorned with feathers, while formal coats bore intricate embroidery of colorful wild birds and branches.

Neon on Neutrals at Coach

 

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Despite Mocha Mousse being Pantone’s Color of the Year, Coach chose to infuse their own vibrant neon tones into the ongoing neutrals trend for their Fall/Winter 2025 collection. This line was influenced by Larry Clark’s 1995 film “Kids”, and it showcased a lively, youthful interpretation of urban style that resonates with Generation Z. The models who strutted down the runway mirrored this energetic and grungy vibe of the collection.

In their latest collection, Coach incorporated a variety of miniaturized leather vests, mismatched argyle vests combined with patchwork trousers, and robust trench coats, all presented in a spectrum of deep earthy tones. Despite the fact that this season’s leading color and simplicity have persisted to dominate the catwalk, Coach chose to inject some vibrancy into the otherwise somber color scheme by pairing numerous outfits with neon-hued sunglasses in a range of neon shades such as orange, yellow, and red.

Bubblegum and More Fun at Christian Cowan

 

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Christian Cowan, always full of mischief, countered the wave of subdued tones dominating the runway during New York Fashion Week with his own response. The pièce de résistance of his collection was unquestionably a flamboyant mini dress crafted entirely from vibrant silicone chewing gum. In an interview post-show, Cowan revealed that he painstakingly chewed and shaped each piece of gum to achieve the desired look.

Distinctive, eye-catching items also graced the collection, such as skirts fashioned from stiletto heels and a stiletto-style bustier on a deep red evening dress. Cowan mentioned that this collection was inspired by an extraordinary friend who had recently passed away. This friend was always unafraid to fully embrace bold fashion choices, even going so far as to completely immerse themselves in extravagant high fashion looks and fully committing to them, even when the fashion choice involved hundreds of pieces of chewing gum.

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2025-02-13 01:57