I Just Got Back from NYFW. These Trends Dominated Both on and off the Runway

A structured silhouette instantly pulls a look together, especially in a season dominated by oversized coats and heavy layers, and this season the pillbox hat and beret are clear winners. At Romeo Hunte and Anna Sui, wool versions sat neatly atop sleek tailoring and longline dresses and skirts. On the streets, editors and influencers styled their pillbox hats with sweeping coats and flat boots, while others wore them with leather jackets and straight-leg jeans.

Shawl dressing took on new life this season, evolving from winter staple to runway muse. At FFORME, models layered oversized shawls over sweaters and pants, treating them like outerwear and statement pieces. Textures ranged from brushed silks to fluffy, cloud-like cashmeres.

Off the runway, street style embraced draped scarves and fur-lined wraps as transitional pieces. Whether cinched with a belt or worn loose over a monochrome base, the oversized shawl has become a symbol of chic luxury.

If NYFW had a mood this season, it was transparency. Sheer fabrics dominated the runways at Tory Burch and LaQuan Smith, creating a dialogue between exposure and artistry. Delicate tulle and chiffon paired with heavier meshes and lace, layering over undergarments and tailored separates. Seen on the streets in the form of sheer tops over bralettes, pants with transparent panels and sheer socks paired with chunky boots, the trend extends beyond couture into relatable, wearable style.

If anyone thought neon had retired after the 2010s, New York Fashion Week proved otherwise. The streets became a neon playground, with creative directors, stylists and influencers weaving pops of day-glow into tonal outfits. A neon clutch here, a belt there, even electric kicks under a neutral coat; the trend brought a playful energy to the often serious fashion week rotation. Highlighter colors burst onto the runways at Ashlyn and Sergio Hudson, punctuating structured tailoring and billowing fabrics alike. Neon trims, belts and even socks added a kinetic charge to every look.

Texture was everywhere. Three-dimensional fabrics took center stage at Diotima and Christian Siriano (who also launched a beauty line, Runway Skincare, the same chaotic week), where designers experimented with nubby bouclés, crinkled satins, knit mosaics and raised embroidery. In the streets, texture translated into layering, with shaggy sweaters set against smooth leathers, and quilted skirts paired with large fuzzy scarves.

Suede showed up in force, too. At Coach and Ralph Lauren, it came in shades of brown and burnt orange, cut into trenches, slim trousers and abbreviated minis. Even the accessories leaned in, often complemented by leather. Outside the shows, oversized suede jackets, patchwork skirts and worn-in boots moved easily through the streets, suggesting that this plush finish won’t be going away anytime soon.