What you missed at NYFW FW26 - Episode 91
Another New York Fashion Week has come and gone.
The week’s events just wrapped with designers presenting their fall/winter 2026 collections. With nearly 100 presentations and runway shows on the official CFDA calendar, plus countless off-schedule dinners, activations, and parties, there was a lot happening.
I attended this season and still missed things.
Today I’m recapping the brands that made their NYFW debut, the runway and street style trends that defined the week, the standout shows, and of course, the parties you saw all over Instagram.
Create & consume:
What Austen is creating this week: I filmed a backstage interview with hairstylist Brent Lawler for LoveShackFancy. Backstage at fashion week is fast, chaotic, and somehow still magical.
What Austen is consuming this week: The Maybelline Super Stay Skin Tint. I bought it a few weeks ago and have been testing it during long fashion week days. It’s lightweight, glowy, and held up surprisingly well in freezing temperatures.
In this episode:
Overview of the week
February fashion week ran from February 11th through the 16th.
There were nearly 100 events on the official schedule. Because President’s Day fell on Monday, much of the schedule felt front-loaded.
Fashion week always brings together buyers, editors, and influencers.
Historically, buyers would attend to determine what will actually land in stores and dditors attend to identify trends and shape the fashion narrative.
Influencers also attend to document the moment, amplify the brands, and create content that extends the life of the collections far beyond the runway.
The weather this season was colder than usual as large snow banks lined the sidewalks.
Several of my out-of-town friends who normally make a whole trip of it skipped this season. The energy felt slightly more local and a little more intimate because of that.
Brands that made their NYFW debut
One of the most exciting parts of any season is seeing which brands officially join the calendar.
Cult Gaia, a long-time cult favorite, entered the runway space this season. The brand has built a loyal following over the years, so seeing them step into an official NYFW moment felt significant.
7 For All Mankind showed on the NYFW calendar for the first time under the creative direction of Nicola Brognano. The debut signaled a new chapter for the heritage denim brand.
Caroline Zimbalist made her on-schedule debut after showing off-schedule since 2024. I attended her presentation last year, so seeing her officially join the calendar felt like watching a well-earned progression.
Contessa Mills made her fashion week debut with a collection inspired by the Queen of Cups tarot card. Each of her collections draws from a different tarot archetype, which adds a narrative layer that feels deeply intentional.
Veejay Floresca, a recent winner of Project Runway, also made her debut. Her architectural silhouettes immediately stood out.
Designers like Akki, Lorena Pipenco, and Showpony also made their official debuts this season, expanding the diversity and creative range of the calendar.
Runway trends for fall/winter 2026
When I worked at Nylon, J. Errico always told us: three makes a trend. Once you see something three times, it’s real.
Exaggerated shoulders, seen at Tory Burch, Carolina Herrera and Collina Strada
Bright red as seen at Prozena Schouler, Coach and Sivan
Lovely gloves as seen at Michael Kors, Calvin Klein and Carolina Herrera
Deep purple trench coats as seen at Tanya Taylor, L’Agence, and Tory Burch
80’s power suits as seen at Diotima, Snow Xue Gao and Jaquemus
Billowy pants as seen at Ulla Johnson, Cinq a Sept and Kallmeyer
Tapestry inspired pieces as seen at L’Agence, Ralph Lauren and Veronica Beard
Street style trends spotted at shows
Pillbox hats popped up repeatedly.
Zebra print had a strong presence—I even brought my beaded zebra purse to the Norma Kamali presentation.
Barrel bags were everywhere.
Fringe skirts stood out, especially one worn by Rose, a creator who I sat next to at Cinq à Sept. It was unforgettable.
Colorful tights made a strong case for winter dressing. I wished I had red tights for my Friday outfit.
Cropped faux fur jackets also appeared frequently, adding texture and warmth.
My friend Karya, who is a street style photographer, broke down even more trends on her Instagram.
Standout shows
Michael Kors celebrated its 45-year anniversary with a runway honoring classic New York chic.
Cinq à Sept celebrated ten years with a giant cake. It felt celebratory and joyful.
The Proenza Schouler x Rachel Scott debut was one of the defining moments of the week. Scott is balancing her own label, Diotima, while stepping into this new role. Her expertise in crochet and texture came through. There were cape-like tops and beautifully structured jackets. I loved this collection.
Sivan staged a murder mystery at The Georgia Room. Models embodied different characters in an avant-garde, costume-esque presentation with more representation in one show than we saw during most of the week.
Bronx and Banco shut down a city block and the first model stepped out of a taxi cab to open the show.
Who didn’t show this season
Rebecca Minkoff shared on the Fashion & Founders podcast that her brand doesn’t really show at fashion week anymore. She cited the cost—often at least $250,000 to do it well—and said they could never directly tie that investment back to revenue.
Zero Waste Daniel posted on Instagram explaining he didn’t create a new collection for fashion week this season. He emphasized staying grounded and speaking clearly against bigotry, exclusion, and abuses of power.
Both perspectives highlight an evolving question: what is the true value of participating?
Parties & influencer events
The social side of NYFW is now just as strategic as the runway.
Marie Claire and Who What Wear co-hosted the LOFT Rivete denim launch party at Bowery Terrace. There was denim embroidery, pizza, and keychains inspired by Bowery Hotel room keys.
Manolo Blahnik hosted an intimate dinner at The New York EDITION. Guests sipped “Manolo Margaritas” in the Gold Room before sitting down to dinner.
Louis Vuitton celebrated the debut of the Express bag with a cocktail party at Obvio in NoMad.
J.Crew threw a Rollneck Remix party honoring a style they’ve sold since the 1980s. Five independent New York labels — Buci NYC, Collina Strada, Eckhaus Latta, Patrick Taylor, and Tanner Fletcher — reimagined the classic in capsule form.
Hervé Léger celebrated 40 years at Jean’s in the East Village. Influencers like Remi Bader and Amaya Espinal were in attendance.
Aureum Collective hosted Aureum After Dark at Maison Close. Founder Cass Dimicco announced the brand’s pivot from jewelry to fine leather goods. Guests received matchboxes that read, “table for 3, you me and my new bag.”
LTK hosted a kickoff party featuring a wall of shoppable looks and candy hearts—fully optimized for content creation.
In summary:
After attending NYFW for over a decade, one thing is clear.
Fashion week is less about pure functionality as it used to be when buyers and editors would select what to feature, and more about marketing, networking, and storytelling.
It’s about creating a moment of brand awareness and driving engagement beyond traditional media to social platforms.
The real question is: what is the value for everyone participating?
For some brands, the spectacle is worth it. For others, the cost and energy may be better invested elsewhere.
Either way, NYFW continues to evolve. What it turns into next, we shall see.
Have you ever wanted to attend NYFW? I have a whole guide of how to do it in episode 36.
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