NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 11: Models walk the runway during the Michael Kors Collection Spring/Summer 2026 Runway Show at Terminal Warehouse on September 11, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by JP Yim/Getty Images for Michael Kors)
Getty Images for Michael Kors
9/11 and its remembrances will always be a part of the spring collection shown during September as the events overlap. NYFW was underway when the planes hit the Twin Towers, and within an hour, show spaces were transformed into triage centers. This year, on the 24th anniversary of the attacks, America is reeling from another horrific attack, a political assassination that is further sowing the divisiveness of the country. Thus, those of us lucky to call fashion our career have the luxury to escape headlines and focus on beauty and creativity. Hometown designer Michael Kors offered a serene getaway both literally and figuratively on his Spring 2026 runway.
Dubbed ‘earthy elegance’, Kors set the tone, crafting a set inspired by his beach home and the concept via wood paneling, terracotta décor, and massive cacti, among other natural elements.
“The simple truth is that escapism helps us tremendously,” said Kors in a statement. “So many of us live urban lives, and when you travel, you learn about yourself, you learn about other people, you learn about life. It’s nature that always knocks us out, but balanced with elegance and sophistication—that’s everything I want this collection to convey.”
Models walk the runway during the Michael Kors Spring/Summer 2026 collection show on September 10, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by ANGELA WEISS / AFP) (Photo by ANGELA WEISS/AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
Thus, an ease prevailed for the Michael Kors woman who, looking to get away from it all, let down her defenses. Fluid scarf-inspired dresses, wispy thin knits, layered to evoke a cultural dressing found in desert countries, chic-ed up pareo dressing (an emerging trend), pajama dressing, draped culottes (think Aladdin), and plenty of slit leg caftans and flowing tunics meant to catch a brisk zephyr in an earth tone palette. Tailoring was infused into some of the styles for a touch of structure, and also came in the form of perforated suede looks with a safari feel. Glam arrived in sequin and shimmering gold styles, while fringe added drama on skirt hems and the covetable accessories.
While Kors had his mega ladies— Gwyneth Paltrow, Suki Waterhouse (brand ambassador), Olivia Munn, Leslie Bibb, Olivia Wilde, Audra McDonald, Kelsea Ballerini, and Judith Light, among others—commanding the front row, spring’s lineup is the opposite of power dressing, instead offering a particular vulnerability. While it may seem antithetical to today’s dark times, maybe if we all lighten up a bit, we can lower the temperature and relax the mood.
Another quintessential New York designer, Norma Kamali, is in the midst of a renaissance with another generation discovering her innovative designs that debuted over 40 years ago. For Spring 2026, Kamali reimagined her grey sweat dressing concept with an upgrade thanks to today’s advanced fabrics. (Who needs actual shoulder pads when the textiles can be molded to create the effect?) Kamali riffs on classics such as pleated miniskirts, dance skirts, rompers, and jumpers, and luxe up fleece appropriate for office chic. Pink was a strong message, pairing nicely with grey and looking glamorous in bias cut satin styles. Ruching prevails in Kamali’s world, au courant on shiny miniskirts and in a classic white 40s-inspired bathing suit, a brand staple. Black styles leaned into sheer dress moments, whether in a fine mesh or bold lace. Adding to its appeal are the price points, which don’t exceed $200 but read much more luxe than that.
A look form Kate barton’s Spring 2026 runway.
Darian DiCianno/BFA.com
Speaking of generations, Kate Barton is quickly emerging as Gen Z’s rising design darling. Having launched her collection with the help of her age group’s snack du jour, Goldfish crackers, Barton’s now iconic goldfish bag has become a brand mascot. This season, a new sponsor, Fiducia AI, has leveraged Barton’s fabric technology approach in response to online queries about whether Barton’s liquid finish drape fabrics are real or AI. Guests were greeted by screens serving as a runway backdrop that depicted said goldfish and models floating in water, a constant reminder of the designer’s positioning of the role digital plays in our real experiences.
Barton’s signature drapes, molding, and trompe l’oeil style evolved and were given a sporty touch, which at times pleasantly recalled the Nineties cult-streetwear brand by Laura Whitcomb, Label. Core pastels were enhanced with bolder colors, and knitwear offerings expanded, as did a bevy of new prints. Further leaning into the world of tech, the designer also teamed up with Bandolier on a case to hold tech’s most ubiquitous device, the phone.
“This collection is about questioning preconceptions – my own included – about shape, print, and the ways we separate sportswear, fashion, and evening wear. I wanted the runway to feel like a passage into another dimension, a space where these oppositions not only coexist but create something unexpectedly alluring,” said Barton in a release.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Models walk the runway at the 2025 FIT Fashion Design MFA New York Fashion Week Show “Act 5” on September 09, 2025 at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for FIT)
Getty Images for FIT
At a show earlier in the week, Act 5, a group show by FIT’s MFA students, the role technology will play in the fashion of tomorrow was evidenced with students showing 3D printing-created garments (and other ways in which clothing can become three-dimensional) that show the endless possibilities for fashion. The collections oozed with creativity and fantasy, a welcome addition to New York’s mainly commercial-centric fashion week.
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