It’s September, and I hope you know what that means: New York Fashion Week.  Quite possibly the only good thing that comes out of September.  I hope you’re into fashion as much as I am, because this year’s Spring/Summer preview shows were insane.  I’m here to give you the most educational recap of the whole week. From runway shows to crazy afterparties, you’ll be able to make niche references to all your cool fashion friends after reading this super informative article.

What is New York Fashion Week?

New York Fashion Week (which actually lasts two weeks) is a biannual event, in which fashion brands and designers come from all over the world to showcase their work, and celebrate fashion as a whole. Runway shows, parties, social events, and more, NYFW is limitless in regards to events. The first week takes place sometime in early February, from February 6th to the 11th.  During this week, all Fall/Winter collections are showcased, and in typical New York fashion, celebrated.  Designers such as Carolina Herrera, Marc Jacobs, Christan Siriano, and countless others are featured during this week.  This week is a personal favorite of mine, and I show up to every show I possibly can.  Last year, I attended a Thom Browne runway show, and have never seen so many well dressed people in a single line before.  Moving on, the second week, which takes place somewhere in the middle of September, showcases all Spring/Summer collections.  Most of the same brands make appearances at both weeks, but some smaller brands may choose one or the other, considering just how expensive it is to book any venue that week.

The Most Noteworthy Runway Shows of the Week:

This year, we had some insane shows.  As soon as I saw the lineup, I bought tickets to 3 shows immediately, because who in their right mind would miss a Ralph Lauren, Fang, and Coach runway show?  Not me.

Ralph Lauren / RRL:

(One of my personal favorite looks from RL SS26)

Ralph, you’re amazing, and this show was nothing less than perfect.  Presenting 51 looks this year, each and every one of them was a hit.  Being held in Ralph Lauren’s design studio on Madison Avenue, it was the perfect setting for this show.  The chandeliers, white walls, and intimate lighting made the environment well put together, but kept the attention on the clothes.  The color palette was mostly black, white, and some bold red to keep it interesting.  Most of the looks focused on maintaining clean lines, sharp tailoring, and confident cuts: exactly what RL is known for.  Some major themes I noticed were the use of jackets in layering, bold accessories such as straw hats, and silky materials being used in most looks.  To make this night even better, I got to see Oprah Winfrey in real life.  Crazy.  At the end of the show, Ralph Lauren himself, along with his wife, received a standing ovation while the show closed out.  Overall, the show was incredible. With looks the likes of which I’ve never seen before, an amazing venue, and an Oprah Winfrey appearance, the show was something I’d definitely never forget.

Fang:

(My personal favorite look from Fang’s show)

Fang, being a very young brand, was making its debut into NYFW this year, with SS26 being their first time attending.  Being created by Fang Guo, an esteemed fashion designer, working with brands such as Conde Nast and Karla Otto, he brought his best to New York this week, with his theme for the show being “gender-expansive’ fashion.  This show attempted to challenge conventional ideas around masculinity / femininity in fashion.  This theme was what convinced me to attend their show, as I am a strong believer in gender-less fashion. 

The venue was very industrial, being held in a warehouse.  There was a plethora of harsh lighting, edgy set design, and techno music.  Besides the venue, the clothing was extremely unique.  The theme was set heavily on 90’s grunge, but reinterpreted through a techno, futuristic lens.  A mix of skin-revealing sheer pieces, leather, bulky jewelry, and an overall rugged look from the models was seen throughout the whole show.  Although I didn’t see Oprah here, the show was still amazing, and I’ve never seen anything like it before, having been to many fashion shows over the past two years.  I highly recommend checking out Fang, as the work being done by the brand is like nothing else.

Parabal Gurung:

(Most popular look presented at Parabel Gurung’s SS26 show)

Parabal Gurung was back at NYFW, flipping the script from their previous show.  Instead of a dark, emphatic theme from the brand, it was the complete opposite.  Gurung leaned heavily into a hopeful, light theme this year.  The show was very quiet, with soft, mellow background music playing in a dimly lit, blankly decorated venue.  The main theme throughout the looks shown were voluminous, fluid silhouettes, and fabrics with sheer elements; combining to make an overall delicate look.  I loved their inclusive casting, with models from different races, heights, and body types all being showcased during the show.  Overall, this show, although short, felt like a breath of fresh air, with the entire atmosphere being strangely comforting.  I’d say it was one of the best small designer shows of the whole week, even rivaling Fang.

Other Related Events:

Harlem’s Fashion Row:

(Example of looks  presented at Harlem Fashion Row SS26)

This year, Harlem Fashion Row came back to NYFW, marking its 18th year as a crucial part of the week.   This year, the event was showcasing three Haitian designers: Atelier Ndigo, LaTouché, and Daveed Baptiste.  The event was themed “This is the Table,” which was focused on highlighting and celebrating multicultural talent, harboring a community focused approach to defining the future of fashion.  Atelier Ndigo opened the show, with many looks including natural makeup, warm blush, and low braided buns paired with traditional headpieces, encompassing looks that connected heavily to traditional roots.  Next up was LaTouché, who presented looks containing tribal, avant-garde makeup, paired with Haitian tribal clothing.  Closing out the show was Daveed Baptiste, showcasing traditional Grenadian looks, with models being colored in blue paint, representing defiance and the island’s culture.  Overall, the show served as a great platform for emerging designers of color to present their visions for their future collections.

Target Style Tailgate:

(Photo of foosball table at the Target Style tailgate)

On September 13th, Target hosted its Style Tailgate event at The High Line in Chelsea.  The theme was “Forever Fall.”  Being an autumn enthusiast, I was very supportive of the theme.  The idea was to tie together fashion and the atmosphere of tailgating / football game culture in the fall. It was a small runway show, with a variety of activities scattered around the venue.  Many product samples, an extensive perfume bar, and complementary food and drink were included in the experience.  The event also hosted a live music performance from Suki Waterhouse, assisted by DJ’s D-Nice and Kitty Ca$h.  The event’s goal was to promote accessible fashion, being high quality, expressionate, but available to all, being held in a playful, immersive, and community based environment.  I’d say it was one of the best events held all week, with the best message.

Final Thoughts:

NYFW SS26 was AMAZING.  From what I got to see in person and online, there wasn’t one miss the whole week.  I got to meet some very cool people, enjoy inspiring looks, and have an overall great time.  If you’re interested in fashion to any degree, you’re obligated to go to NYFW at least once.  The Fall/Winter series starts in February, and I better see you there!