5 trends from New York Fashion Week’s spring-summer 2025 collections

This month’s spring-summer 2025 New York Fashion Week kicks off one of fashion’s biggest months, and officially ran from Sept. 6 through Sept. 11. There were 87 runway events and presentations listed on the Council of Fashion Designers of America calendar, plus innumerable off-calendar shows. The trends seen at these events will help set fashion’s tone at retail stores and on influencer accounts through the remainder of fall and into next year.

Nonetheless, the nonprofit group Partnership for New York City recently released a report referring to NYFW’s “diminished status” on the world’s fashion stage. As the luxury industry struggles against weakening consumer interest, especially in the U.S., mainstream and indie brands are showing increasingly wearable collections, albeit at high-fashion prices.

At the same time, the runways are reaching a wider consumer audience through social media, e-commerce and live streaming platforms. For example, fashion designer Willy Chavarria offered online consumers the ability to shop selections from his runway collection the day after his show. Meanwhile, Google Shopping partnered with ready-to-wear label Simkhai to showcase an expanded generative AI-enabled tool that includes virtual dress try-ons and pre-orders. Streaming platform B Live helped brands including Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera and Coach livestream their runways shows. 

This season, brands seemed ready to embrace the informal ease American fashion embodies. Some labels, such as Alaïa and Off-White, even skipped their usual Paris shows to present collections in New York.

Here are some of the standout trends from the New York collections.

All American

From tracksuits and jersey number details at Off-White’s first New York show to oversized “I Love NY” T-shirts, denim, leather jackets and khakis at Coach, American sportswear was on full display.

Brandon Maxwell showed off wearable separates and closet staples and Sergio Hudson sent out pastel-colored suiting separates that showcased his classic American tailoring. Meanwhile, at a show titled “América,” Willy Chavarria handed out copies of the U.S. Constitution and featured workwear looks and a new Adidas collab.

Tommy Hilfiger brought out preppy country club looks, nautical stripes and a surprise performance from Wu-Tang Clan aboard a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry. Finally, Ralph Lauren offered a classic Gatsby twist and a hopeful splash of color at his Hamptons runway show.

Sheer volume

Hemlines were see-through and floor-length, worn with or without body-skimming underlayers.

LoveShackFancy featured ephemeral, wispy gowns, while Christian Siriano showed dramatic black see-through red carpet confections and pink poufy tulle dresses. Jason Wu offered the trend in pale neutrals with flowing hemlines, sometimes topped with this season’s extra long sleeved jacket trend.

Khaite showed floaty organza gowns and separates, and Prabal Gurung created diaphanous trains that trailed behind models as they walked the runway.

Extra large

Tibi’s billowing cape dresses, Luar’s extravagant shoulders and enormous trench coats and Adam Lippes’ oversized sportswear separates showed that roomy can be elegant.

At Alaïa’s Guggenheim museum show — the first in the venue’s history — creative director Pieter Mulier showed palazzo pants and spherical coats paired with earrings so long they doubled as necklaces.

Meanwhile, at Who Decides War, designers Ev Bravado and Téla D’Amore proved that the brand’s signature oversized streetwear looks are the right fit for this fashion moment.

Denim on denim

Jeanswear jackets and vests, denim skirts and wide-legged and slouched pants were all over the runways this season. Spring 2025 is going to see head to toe blue if New York’s designers have their way.

Rachel Comey paired blousy denim tops with wide-legged jeans and her new leather “tool” bags, while Zero + Maria Cornejo showed a sculptural dark denim zip top with matching puffed-out clamdiggers.

Cinq à Sept showed several denim outfits, including a denim suit and crop top with matching skirt. Kobi Halperin also offered up a three-piece denim suit, and Libertine showed splattered, patched and matched jeans and jackets.

Very demure

Satin, lace and ladylike silhouettes looked feminine with a touch of retro edge at Tanner Fletcher.

Sandy Liang’s compact pastel suits and short satin dresses channeled 1960s office vibes, while voluminous white lace at 3.1 Phillip Lim and sharp lace midi skirts at Michael Kors felt mature and timeless.

At Collina Strada, a show titled “Touch Grass” offered ruffles, flouncy skirts and comfortable-looking flats, including Sperry Top-Siders, in a collection that felt feminine, easy, and maybe even a little mindful.