New York Fashion Week shows promising fashion future

New York Fashion Week took place from Sept. 6 through Sept. 11. The week-long event is hosted twice a year, allowing designers to showcase their clothing. The shows in September highlight the Spring and Summer 2025 collections of multiple brands and designers.

According to NYFW’s website, the week’s goal is to highlight the shaping of “culture, trends and the evolution of American fashion.” The event hosted many iconic runway shows and saw common themes sure to trickle down into the coming months’ fashion trends.

Among the slew of runways that transpired, there were a few standout shows during the six days. The shows stood out for its themes, unique styles and the way the designers played with shapes and patterns. 

Tommy Hilfiger

Tommy Hilfiger’s “Nautical with a Twist” runway show is one to remember. The show took place Sept. 8 at 6:30 p.m. The show’s creative location was aboard the MV John F. Kennedy, which once operated as the Staten Island Ferry. The location heightened the nautical themes of the outfits on the runway. 

The outfits featured many classic Tommy Hilfiger colors, such as red, white and blue, but some outfits also had notes of beige and white. The clothes had a relaxed fit, yet the style of the clothes felt very clean. The runway featured a variety of feminine and masculine styles and dawned patterns such as plaids and stripes. 

One of the goals of this collection was to reinvent the Tommy Hilfiger brand. In an interview with Elle, Hilfiger said, “Modernize through shape, through fabric, through detail, through presenting each style in a new way, because it has to be fresh but it also has to be familiar.”

Tory Burch

The Tory Burch runway show took place Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. and was held at Skylight at The Armory, which was formerly Domino Sugar Factory. The outfits’ bases were full of neutrals, yet many looks had pops of colors such as purples and reds. 

Burch described the collection as sporty to Women’s Wear Daily. “I started with the concept, the essence of sport,” Burch said. “I have always loved athletes and their power, their strength and their solace.”

The collection was sporty, indeed. The collection was full of swimsuits and athletic clothing, but it remained classy and ready to wear. One notable takeaway from the collection was the return of the Reva ballet flats. The designer shoe usually ranges from $150 to $270, but the piece is a memorable accessory for any look. 

Michael Kors

The Michael Kors runway show took place Sept. 10 at 5 p.m. at The Shed, which is located at Hudson Yards. The room was filled with designers, fashion writers and celebrities for the invitation-only event. 

The theme of the runway show was Mediterranean romance, which transported audience members to Italy. The show celebrated 35 years of working with designers and artisans from Italy, hence the nod to the country’s coast. 

The runway looks began with black and white looks, and as the show went on, more color was added to the outfits. The looks transitioned back to neutral, black and white to finish the runway. The outfits resembled the current trend of the “office siren,” which is a trend of sexy corporate wear. 

Melitta Baumeister

Melitta Baumeister is a less established designer, yet her looks have so much innovation to offer. Baumeister’s looks debuted at NYFW, and the runway did not disappoint. 

Inspired by movement, Baumeister used intricate shapes and fabrics to enhance models’ walks. Her style is very unique and does not conform to the normative ready-to-wear fashion. 

The collection showcased a variety of athletic looks, with the first look notably being modeled by track and field Paralympian gold medalist Scout Bassett. Bassett was an example of the movability of Baumeister’s garments. 

The collections shown at NYFW were standouts in their own right. The looks presented a point to an exciting future for fashion. 

sa425522@ohio.edu