Playing it safe or just plain smart? Amid freezing temperatures and Saks store closures, the real triumph of New York Fashion Week was its perseverance in offering the pieces that skip the just-for-show bits and offer classic city polish, personal touches, and serious sell-through. Discover the top trends from NYFW FW26.
The week at a glance
Though technically off-schedule, the week kicked off with the likes of Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren, who injected some much-needed star power into a week that was missing a couple of drawcards and wondering how buyers would make up for the fallout of Saks and Ssense.
Off the back of Ralph Lauren’s comparatively understated cable quarter-zip knit topping the Lyst Index’s hottest products of Q4 2025, the label continued to jump on its surge in popularity by tapping into the opulent stylings of bygone eras. The historically-inflected brocade waistcoats, bohemian blouses, and velvet evening wear are sure to be a hit with the Wuthering Heights audience.
And, with the Carolyn Bessett-Kennedy craze heating up with the premiere of American Love Story, even Marc Jacobs was in the mood to keep things relevant and wearable. Previously showing dramatically oversized proportions and novelty footwear, the storied American designer peeled things right back to present a quirky yet cohesive collection complete with references to Saint Laurent and his own stint at Perry Ellis, which very much slips into that Bessett-Kennedy era of Calvin Klein minimalism.
Speaking of Calvin Klein, Veronica Leoni presented her third show for the label, featuring sharp tailoring and billowing evening wear, while Rachel Scott proved to be the busiest designer in New York, showing her debut collection for Proenza Schouler and following up with a well-received outing for her own label, Diotima. Khaite, Eckhaus Latta, and Altuzarra remained the hottest tickets for the fashion crowd at NYFW.
Overall, for buyers and forecasters, the feeling across the runways was dressed up – and not just for the office. There was a heavy presence of outerwear and artful layering, and in the current climate of freezing winters and increasingly hot summers, it proved the need for designers to present desirable, seasonal clothing, as opposed to seasonless runways. Designers also paid attention to bags and low-heeled shoes; the kinds of items that can drive margin, and fit into the price gaps left by the European brands continuously hiking their prices.
Runway highlights
One of the bigger – and more confusing – trends of the week was the undeniable amount of shearling jackets and coats that resembled fur. Remember, this is the last season that New York designers can present fur pieces in their collections; however, the demand for the furry fabric seems too big to ignore.
“It’s a lot of young girls buying right now,” says Nick Pologeorgis, co-chair of the American Fur Council and owner of New York-based fur manufacturer Pologeorgis, telling Vogue Business the rise in popularity was down to the fact that people just “want it”.
Calvin Klein’s Veronica Leoni presented a braided shearling, which was dyed and assembled to resemble fur, Altuzarra's long, black fur coat was also shearling, and so were Michael Kors’s red fur-looking pieces. It seems shearling is the hall pass for brands looking to capitalize on the popularity of vintage furs selling like hot cakes on the resale market, while brands like Nour Hammour are seeing their shearling coats top January’s most-wanted lists.
Elsewhere, the opulence continued. Velvet, oil-slick leather, sheer layering, sharp suiting, skinny belts, and sumptuous outerwear destined for the icy city streets made great cases for the must-have picks of next season. Monochrome dominated the runway once more, alongside shapely tailoring and strict, buttoned-up suiting designed for commercial success.
Finally, the brooch continues its comeback. Ralph Lauren, Ulla Johnson, Khaite, Tory Burch, Altuzarra, Coach, and Sandy Liang were among those to pin one on sweaters, blazers, collars, and lapels with varying degrees of size and intricacy.
Here are the biggest emerging trends from New York Fashion Week FW26.
Trends
Sculptural leather
There’s nothing like a New York-influenced leather jacket, and the FW26 season in the city left no stone untouched when it came to pointy, curvy, and sculptural leather pieces. The staccato leather jacket trend is a true reflection of the current demand for wearable, functional fashion that still feels like it's been meticulously crafted for self-expression. Leave it to Khaite to create a militant yet feminine silhouette with tightly fitted leather jackets, sure to be on every New York fashionista's list for next season.
Romantic volume
It appears no coincidence that the waist-accentuating corsetry and billowing blouses of the Wuthering Heights costume department and press tour, that a new sense of volume coupled with the idea of modern romance, would take over the runways. Romantic, gothic glamor in the way of a cocoon and barrel silhouettes, balloon skirts, tiny waists, and broad shoulders have settled firmly into the zeitgeist, with regency themes gaining traction from the Spring Summer 2026 collections, spotted at Cinq à Sept, Khaite, Kallmeyer, and Ralph Lauren.
Velvet crush
Just as prevalent as in the menswear collections, rich velvet textures in jewel tones were seen across the New York runways, exuding an 80s-era opulence and balanced with a classic, sporty sense of ease. Velvet also leaned into the historical romance portion of the week, offset with ruffles, high-collared blouses, and lace, and seen in buttoned-up officer coats, romantic dresses, and utility jackets. Highlights included the fluid, chocolatey eveningwear at Ralph Lauren, the precision-cut jackets at Khait,e and the shapely dresses at Fforme.
Serious suiting
Leaving any signs of ‘office siren’ in the dust, and perhaps with good timing of the renewed interest in the minimal Carolyn Bessett-Kennedy wardrobe, the season ushered in suiting that was strictly business (save for a few quirks). The new Calvin Klein tailored silhouette favors a top-heavy approach with slick trousers and a little-too-long sleeves, while Rachel Scott for Proenza Schouler played with an evolved, wearable minimalism. A more intellectual approach could be seen at Michael Kors, Fforme, and Ralph Lauren.
Acidic tendencies
Yellow-green, green-yellow, slightly acidic, and a little bit mossy, this chartreuse-mustard hue continues to wedge itself into the season’s color palette. It appears to be carrying on the momentum seen during FW25, where Tagwalk reported the use of chartreuse on catwalks surged by about 93 % year-over-year. Notable at Tory Burch, Khaite, and Ulla Johnson in silk dresses and leather, the various shades of chartreuse play well into the heavier brown and khaki greens predicted to dominate the season’s colorwheel, and land perfectly alongside oxblood red as the fashion-forward color pop.
Ready to start assortment planning for next season? Here's how buyers and merchandisers can use data to boost results this season.
Image credits: Tory Burch, Tagwalk
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