Twice a year, the world’s gaze turns to the biggest designers, models, and celebrities in the Big Apple in one of the biggest events in the fashion industry: The New York Fashion Week. 

New York Fashion Week didn’t just showcase designer creativity, it set the direction for what we’ll be seeing in stores and on the streets this season. Here are some standout trends that took the runway: 

• Oversized Tailoring: Power suits are back, but now with exaggerated shoulders, wide-leg pants and longline coats. Designers embraced a gender-fluid approach, making suits feel both empowering and inclusive.
• Animal Prints: Many celebrities debuted in full-length faux leopard trench coats, zebra-striped jumpsuits and snakeskin textures which were often layered to give the full effect. 
• Fringe and Texture Play: Designs featured heavy fringes, fuzzy knits and dramatic feather-like embellishments.
• Dresses Over Pants: A bold layering trend is making an appearance with structured dresses worn over tailored trousers: a styling trick that balances elegance with edge.
• Sustainable Style: More designers leaned into eco-conscious production, highlighting recycled fabrics, biodegradable materials and messages about mindful consumption.

While runways delivered performances, the sidewalks outside venues like Spring Studios and Skylight on Vesey were buzzing with real-life inspiration. NYFW 2025 street style embraced bold layering, clashing prints and returns to individualism over trend-following. Students, stylists, influencers and editors really emphasized that personal style was the true main event. Notably, the resurgence of DIY fashion, hand-painted jeans, upcycled jackets and patchwork accessories, reflected a growing desire for creativity over conformity

What stood out most about this year’s Fashion Week wasn’t just the clothes- it was the conversations happening around them. Diversity and inclusion continued to be a focus, with more models of color, non-binary representation and body diversity on the runway than in years past. Designers are also beginning to challenge the fashion industry’s relationship with waste, speed and exclusivity. NYFW 2025 felt like a hopeful declaration: fashion can still be a force for beauty, joy and progress.

For young people especially, fashion is more than a trend- it’s a form of identity. Whether you’re layering fringe over flannel, repurposing vintage or drawing inspiration from TikTok, what you wear tells the world who you are. NYFW 2025 reminded us that style is personal, political and powerful.

So as the leaves fall and autumn sets in, don’t be afraid to take a risk with your wardrobe. The runways of New York just gave us permission to go bold.