- New York Fashion Week street style always blends practicality and personality in a city full of on-the-go commuters.
- This season, trends like capes, silly hats, and gorpcore made a splash.
First comes Copenhagen, then comes New York City—set your engines, we’re officially in the thick of all things fashion month. I might be biased (I definitely am), but New York Fashion Week holds an unparalleled source of energy and scrappy attitude that oozes from the runways to the streets.
They say if you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere, and much of the sartorial magic comes from that very perspective as we witness independent and American designers find their footing or continue to build on their legacy. That is true of its chic, city-cool attendees too.
Outside the shows, editors, buyers, and off-duty creatives braced themselves for the still-icy streets and brisk winter chill of the city with a survival style tool they’ve grown accustomed to—statement outerwear. Cape-like jackets swept through crosswalks that gave a theatrical jolt of dopamine against the gray winter backdrop. And animal print coats prowled the sidewalks in herds, with deer-spotted motifs offering a fresh alternative to the season’s usual leopard. New York’s fashion people might be cold, but they’d never let onlookers see them slipping.
Ahead, the seven standout trends that defined New York Fashion Week you can wear now.
Embrace Your Wild Side
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Leopard may be fashion’s forever favorite child, but this season, deer-spotted coats earned their spots. The woodland-inspired print offers a bit of a softer, more coquettish twist compared to high-contrast big cat patterns. On the streets, the motif showed up on suede toppers and fluffy styles alike, styled with everything from denim to whimsical skirts.
Clutch It
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Clutches reemerged as the go-to bag for commuters, tucked under arms and gripped in hand as editors darted between shows. In contrast to the city’s usual parade of oversized totes that slip off the shoulders as you move, clutches signaled a purposeful on-the-go energy. Structured leather envelopes, soft fold-over styles, and sculptural minaudières all made appearances.
Elevated Gorpcore
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Gorpcore took on a distinctly sophisticated city polish this week. Continuing its evolution from trailhead to taxi stand, utility staples like camouflage cargos and performance sneakers were balanced with plush outerwear and delicate, lingerie-leaning layers, creating a high-low mix.
Bright Tights
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Bright tights brought remedy to winter blues this season, peeking out beneath hemlines and sharply tailored coats. White pairs offered a crisp, modern touch to its traditional prim manners, while saturated hues like cherry red, fuchsia, and olive green added bold, unexpected pops of color. Amid a sea of standard black hosiery, be the fun you want to see in the world.
Heroic Capes
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Remember when you were a kid and capes made out of random finds in your parents’ home made you feel invincible? That nostalgic, playful energy carried over to the streets of New York this season, where full-length and cropped capes added motion and drama to everyday dressing. Flowing effortlessly over tailored layers or casual staples, they transformed ordinary outfits into something theatrical.
Square-Toe Shoes
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If you’ve ever tried walking for more than an hour in pointed-toe shoes, you know that while beautiful, the pain is very much real. Square-toe shoes offer a welcome alternative, and were New York attendees’ favorite hack for getting through long days. Their clean lines and structured silhouette updated everything from boots to loafers, giving outfits a subtle architectural lift. They also play around with proportion the same way a pointed toe does, but are way more comfortable.
Hatmaxxing
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This is your reminder that you’ve been wasting your free will if you haven’t thrown on a funky little hat and walked outside lately. Hats have been slept on for far too long, but no more! From oversized fedoras to playful berets and paperboy hats, they’re like the accessory version of an IRL smile. It’s hard not to have a good time when you’re wearing a hat.