All the latest from the Fashion Week runways.
The spring/summer 2025 ready-to-wear season has officially kicked off in New York, setting the stage for a month of fashion extravagance as London, Milan, and Paris prepare to host their runway spectacles. With over 100 shows expected globally, this season promises to be one of the most exciting in recent memory, with iconic designers and emerging talents alike unveiling their visions for next year’s trends.
As always, the catwalks aren’t just about the clothes. Star-studded front rows and surprise model appearances are as much a part of the spectacle as the designs themselves. From A-list models such as Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Kendall Jenner to front-row regulars like Rihanna and Gigi Hadid, the fashion capitals are buzzing with excitement. With new additions like Alaïa, Toteme, and Nanushka joining the New York Fashion Week lineup for the first time, the spotlight is firmly on the American city before the fashion caravan moves on to Europe.
Here’s a closer look at the must-see moments from the spring/summer 2025 shows.
Carolina Herrera: Timeless Glamour
Vibrantly plumed fish featured in the teasers for Carolina Herrera’s spring 2025 collection, hinting that creative director Wes Gordon would embrace a decorative approach. True to form, today’s show highlighted bold hues, especially yellow, and playful polka dots—both longtime hallmarks of the house since the 1980s.
Each cherry-red seat came with a pink rose and a Georgia O’Keeffe quote that perfectly captured Gordon’s vision: “I found that I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say in any other way—things that I had no words for.” With Karlie Kloss, Nina Dobrev, Chloe Fineman, and Liza Koshy in the front row, and the house’s founder in attendance, Gordon crafted his own visual language, delivering an elegant interpretation of the decade’s more lavish elements.
Proenza Schouler: A New Direction
Proenza Schouler opened their show ahead of the official New York Fashion Week schedule in a Tribeca loft flooded with sunlight. Designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez steered their brand toward a new direction this season, embracing a more intricate and layered aesthetic. Drawing inspiration from Pablo Picasso’s idea that “every act of creation is first an act of destruction,” the duo presented patchworks of fabric, striped and printed, with diaphanous handkerchief cuts adding texture and depth. Knit pieces frayed into delicate tassels, while fronds adorned skirts and dresses in a playful twist. Yet, despite the added complexity, a clarity persisted, highlighted by flowing, pleated evening gowns that paid homage to the elegance of Madame Grès.
Ralph Lauren: A Hamptons Getaway
Ralph Lauren transported attendees to the Hamptons, his beloved summer retreat, for an idyllic outdoor show. Against the backdrop of white picket fences and sprawling equestrian fields, Lauren’s spring/summer 2025 collection epitomized his classic all-American style. With preppy rugby shirts, tailored blazers, and bohemian-tinged eveningwear, the designer celebrated everything from tennis whites to breezy summer dresses. Supermodels Naomi Campbell, Christy Turlington, and Liya Kebede walked the runway, adding to the star power. Post-show, guests like Dr Jill Biden and Jude Law were treated to a taste of New York’s iconic Polo Bar, reimagined for the evening, cementing the event as the perfect Fashion Week kickoff.
Alaïa: A Transatlantic Tribute to American Beauty
For the first time, Alaïa presented its collection in New York instead of Paris. Pieter Mulier, Alaïa’s creative director, staged his Winter-Spring 2025 show at the iconic Guggenheim Museum. The move to New York was symbolic—a tribute to Azzedine Alaïa’s 1982 show in the city. Mulier’s collection paid homage to American beauty through sleek, architectural designs that echoed the work of great American couturiers like Charles James and Claire McCardell. There was a refined simplicity to the pieces, with sinuous, gravity-defying dresses coiled tightly around models’ bodies, suspended with barely-there internal structures. As models wove their way around the museum’s spiralling ramps, the show highlighted the seamless blend of fashion and art, a signature Alaïa tradition.
Tommy Hilfiger: A Nautical Remix
Tommy Hilfiger, ever the showman, commandeered a former Staten Island ferry for his S/S 2025 show, which blended nautical influences with his trademark all-American collegiate style. Set against the shimmering backdrop of the East River, with the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges in view, Hilfiger showcased elongated knits, windbreakers, and breezy shirt dresses, all with a fresh, timeless appeal. Gone were the graphic-heavy pieces of previous collections, replaced with chic tailoring and understated elegance. The show ended with an electrifying performance by the Wu-Tang Clan, longtime Hilfiger supporters, bringing a touch of New York’s musical legacy to the runway.
