Spanning from Sept. 11 to Sept. 16 was New York Fashion Week. This semiannual event kicks off fashion month. NYFW is followed by all the other fashion capitals — London, Milan and Paris. These four events shape women’s wear for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. 

During NYFW, which is organized by the Council of Fashion Designers of America, over 60 designers showcased their collections. For celebrities, the parties, fashion shows and presentations were the place to see and be seen. For Chloe Malle, the new head of editorial content at American Vogue, this was her first major event since taking over for Anna Wintour. 

Although New York is the most recent city to become a major fashion capital, NYFW dictates the clothes we all wear, whether we’re shopping on Fifth Avenue or Amazon. New York became a fashion capital in 1943, when the other European fashion capitals were understandably preoccupied with World War II. It was originally called “Press Week” and was founded to be an opportunity for American designers to showcase their work. Since then, it has taken extremely famous American designers out of obscurity. Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta, both long standing pillars of the fashion industry, got their start at NYFW. The event still showcases primarily American designers and is also known for featuring emerging designers and brands. It is one of America’s strongest cultural exports, making an event that might seem shallow on the surface extremely important in creating and showcasing American artistry on a global stage.

This year in September’s New York Fashion Week, labels swung on a pendulum of ready-to-wear clothing full of simplistic elegance to vibrant, maximalist clothing, which while gorgeous to look at may need to be watered down for consumer usage. More well-known brands such as Calvin Klein and Michael Kors showed muted collections, full of neutral tones and loose fabrics. 

Like all art forms, fashion can be political. Even when there aren’t overt political phrases on the backs of dresses, the clothes we put on our bodies always have a deeper meaning. This year, NYFW leaned into showing off cultural heritage and advocacy.  

Designer Brandon Maxwell had the first event, where he showed his tenth collection which paid homage to his Texan heritage. The brand Theophilio, founded in 2020 and based in Brooklyn, displayed a colorful collection inspired by founder Edvin Thompson’s Jamaican and American heritage. 

Meanwhile, designers Rachel Antonoff and Susan Alexandra had all of their models walk down the runway with a shelter dog to promote adoptions. Runway 7 partnered with Project Lab Coat to advocate for Lyme disease, all proceeds from their show went to funding Lyme disease research and education on the ailment.

Many people were upset about a lack of diversity on runways as well as a lack of body inclusivity. 

But beyond the glamour and politics of NYFW, the clothes and accessories shown determine the next trends. Retailers from all over the world and at all price ranges will be taking inspiration, and in a few months, the clothes we shop for will be the result of September 2025 NYFW. 

Here’s what we can expect: according to Vogue Scandinavia and Harper’s Bazaar, butter yellow will be replaced by pink (the exact shade to be determined) and bright red as the new colors of the season. Black and white contrasts, loose silhouettes and trench coats will also be popular. Many designers showcased more unembellished designs that are ready to wear but with unique features. Polka dots, which were trending over the summer, will remain popular, having made an appearance at the Khatie collection. Other designers like Tory Burch showcased sequins and feathers. Silk scarves and statement pendants on jewelry are also continuing to trend. These are some of the many trends showcased a few weeks ago during one of fashion’s biggest annual events. In a few months we’ll see these trends appear for spring and summer. The next NYFW will happen in February, where we will see the emergence of women’s wear for fall and winter of 2026 and 2027.