New York Fashion Week (NYFW), Sept. 9-13, marks a week full of fashion and fun that wraps up the Spring and Summer 2024 designer collections with a series of runway shows hosted by some of the world’s greatest designers. Everything from nostalgic appearances from beloved brands to new trends to look out for next season, there is a lot to cover.
Some brands in attendance this year included Altuzarra, Batsheva, Brandon Maxwell, Carolina Herrera, Christian Siriano, Coach, Dion Lee, Eckhaus Latta, Gabriela Hearst, Jason Wu, Jonathan Simkhai, KHAITE, LaQuan Smith, LUAR, Maryam Nassir Zadeh, Michael Kors, PatBO, Peter Do, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson, Theophilio, Tory Burch, Victor Glemaud and Willy Chavarria, Tommy Hilfiger, AREA and PUMA AnOnlyChild, ASHLYN, Foo and Foo, Midnight Studios, ONE/OF by Patricia Voto, Tia Adeola and many more.
NYFW sets the standards for the many new and recurring trends that will pop up over the course of next spring and summer.
The color lilac is making its spring debut, being featured in collections from both Carolina Herrera and Colin Locascio.
Herrera showed her love for both lilac creating a ready-to-wear collection of silk sets and sheer dresses that feature flowy design and floral patterns, while Colin Locascio added the color to his line of crochet pieces.
Other trends taking spring by storm include white suits, cinched drop waists, treated denim, liquid golds and face-framing ruffles, which are taken from croquette fashion and created with bunched-up tulle fabric around the collar and neck area. Adeam’s collection used layers of lace to create pieces that are reminiscent of Victorian nightgowns, while Christian Siriano’s collection mixed up the ruffle trend and shifted the classic tutu from the waist up to the shoulders.
Celebrities like Blake Lively, Halle Berry, and Van Hunt were front row on Sept. 11 for Michael Kors’ runway show. The pieces featured in the show resemble trends from the early 70s, in particular, the empire waist silhouette, a style in which the dress has a fitted bodice ending just below the bust, which gives a high-waisted appearance, often worn with a gathered, loosely fitting skirts.
Kate Spade’s show had appearances from Sophie Wylie from “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” Anne Cathcart from “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and most recently “XO, Kitty,” along with Kenzie Ziegler, Stephanie Hsu and Christina Ricci.
The show’s theme was simply “spring,” and the pieces featured lots of greens, blues and yellows. The use of Peter Pan collars – a flat collar with rounded edges – bedazzled with pearls were worn by many of the models. This collection shows a more masculine side of Kate Spade that hasn’t been seen much in the past.
Coach’s runway show, which took place on Sept. 7, before the official start of NYFW, was jam-packed with celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Chase Stokes from the Netflix hit series “Outer Banks,” Camila Mendes, Dove Cameron and Lil Nas X.
This year, Coach designer Stuart Vever celebrated his 10-year anniversary of being creative director for the iconic brand. The show’s theme was “American Essentials,” which was presented with the use of suits, sheer dresses and leather jackets. The collection was supposed to give a feel of color and playfulness, although it features many everyday pieces.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), interrupted the Coach runway, protesting Coach’s use of leather and promoting the use of vegan materials. There were two protesters who walked on the runway amongst the other models. One protester was photographed holding a sign that read, “Coach: Leather Kills,” while the second protestor wore body paint to make it look like muscles with the same slogan painted on the front of her body.
Peter Do’s debut show for Helmut Lang kicked off NYFW on Sept. 8. Do chose to reimagine and redesign iconic 90s fashion, using already-established pieces from the original Helmut Lang collection and adding his own personal touches.
The fashion was meant to showcase the hustle and bustle of New York City, mimicked through the use of greys and browns, reminiscent of New York City streets. For the finale, models walked as though they were walking around the city, crossing sidewalks and moving through busy streets, with subway audio to add to the ambiance.
One of the most highly anticipated shows came from designer Ralph Lauren, who hasn’t hosted a NYFW runway since 2019. Lauren’s collection for Spring/Summer 2024 had an apparent focus on denim, lace and florals. Many of the pieces were loose and flowy, meant to resemble the West Coast with the recurring use of cowboy hats, which is common for many of Lauren’s looks throughout history.
Designer Kim Shui played with light colors, textures and corsets as she used femininity to her advantage. The designs were meant to be innocent and playful, representing girlhood.
Shui’s whimsical runway collection pays homage to her Italian upbringing and Asian heritage. Her collection includes pieces made with mud silk, lace, satin and a cinched waist silhouette.
The Blonds, a luxury blonde brand from New York City, which was founded by Phillipe and David Blond, have been known to have worked with many companies from the entertainment industry, including Mattel, Disney, Warner Bros., Moulin Rouge and MAC Cosmetics. They have also styled many entertainers such as Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian, Naomi Campbell, Billy Porter and Gigi Hadid.
For this year’s collection, they have come with a mythical collection, inspired by mermaids, unicorns and dragons, called “Blond Titans.” The collection journeys through “mythical realms” and showcases clothing with crystals and chiffon detailing.
Although NYFW has officially come to an end, there are many iconic moments to look back on and many trends to look forward to in upcoming seasons. Between the iconic comeback of Ralph Lauren, the most interesting trends coming into style in the next few months and of course the PETA protesters at the Coach runway show that will be talked about for weeks to come.
