Connect with us

Fashion

New York Fashion Week: Highlights from the Spring-Summer 2025 runways | CNN

Published

on

New York Fashion Week: Highlights from the Spring-Summer 2025 runways | CNN



CNN
 — 

Over the past few days in New York City — and a little further afield, on Long Island — mainstay brands like Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger looked to reinvigorate the classics, while labels including Alaïa and Off-White, who typically show in Paris, crossed the pond to define what American fashion means to them.

New York Fashion Week, which formally kicks off fashion month, has found itself at a crossroads in recent seasons as its counterparts in Milan and Paris have maintained dominance on the industry’s schedule with sought-after shows and splashy celebrity guest lists. But that doesn’t mean the city has been without its A-listers — especially since the weeklong event has coincided with the U.S. Open, bringing out plenty of stars to sit both by the court and the catwalk.

Ralph Lauren got things started with an off-schedule Hamptons fête on Thursday, recreating its iconic Polo Bar for guests including First Lady Jill Biden, singer Usher, and actors Jude Law, Tom Hiddleston and Naomi Watts. At the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum the following night, Alaïa reunited supermodels Naomi Campbell, Linda Evangelista, Amber Valletta and Stephanie Seymour in the audience while Kendall Jenner led the models’ procession around the art museum’s famed spiraling architecture — though Rihanna’s glittering appearance in a crystal mesh ensemble by the French luxury house was the biggest surprise of the evening.

Off-White also had no shortage of famous faces on Sunday to see creative director Ib Kamara stage the label’s first-ever New York runway, drawing singers Zayn Malik, Mary J. Blige and Camila Cabello and model Alessandra Ambrosio, to waterfront basketball courts in Brooklyn. Also in attendance was US Olympic water poloist Ashleigh Johnson — with rapper Flavor Flav, of course, who became a sponsor of her team this year — and 2024 Olympic all-around gymnastics gold medalist Sunisa Lee.

Rihanna arrived at the Guggenheim to see Alaïa’s long-awaited return to New York under the creative direction of Pieter Mulier.
Tommy Hilfiger and Brooke Shields caught up just before Hilfiger’s show that took place inside of a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry.

But Olympians haven’t just been on the guest list this week — they’ve made surprise runway debuts as well. Another one of the gymnastics “Golden Girls,” Jordan Chiles, traded the balance beam for the catwalk at Kim Shui, wearing a floral silk leotard-style outfit, finished with a fluttering cape, while sprinter Noah Lyles took a more leisurely pace at Willy Chavarria’s show in white athletic shorts and armbands emblazoned with “América,” the name the designer chose for a show about the immigrant perspective of the American Dream.

Chavarria’s latest collection — which featured baggy, belted khakis; crisp ties and lapels; and utility menswear skirts, followed by a separate, new sportswear line with Adidas — was set against the backdrop of the American flag and began with a performance of the classic Spanish love song “Querida.” (Guests also received small booklets from the American Civil Liberties Union printed with the full US Constitution, a reminder of the country’s founding ideals.)

Olympian Noah Lyles and Willy Chavarria backstage at the Wall Street venue that hosted “América.”

It was far from the only show that expressed a sense of political urgency ahead of the 2024 election. The surrealist label Area, celebrating its 10th anniversary, partnered with Tinder to promote (and donate to) the national abortion rights campaign Bans Off Our Bodies, showing a collection of handprints and fingerprints printed, stitched and etched on the garments.

“We really think about and reflect on what is going on in the world and put that back into our clothes,” Area creative director Piotrek Panszczyk told CNN backstage.

The Nepali American designer Prabal Gurung, too, had a message, but one of hope. Galvanized by Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign, Gurung wrote in the show notes that he wanted “create a collection that reflects “a powerful affirmation of matriarchy, femininity and the future.” Gurung’s collection of trailing neck scarves, sheer bustiers and hand-draped sari pants was full of movement on a breezy day near City Hall — and included a seemingly tongue-in-cheek reference to Harris with an embroidered coconut tree mini dress.

“I’ve always believed in power of women, of feminine-leaning ideas,” Gurung told CNN just before the show. “I’ve always believed that they saved me… and I know they can save the world.”

Scroll down to see this season’s runway highlights, updated throughout the week.

Paris Hilton invited Megan Thee Stallion for a performance at Hilton’s album release party with Nylon Magazine for New York Fashion Week.
Crisp whites were on show (after Labor Day) at Ralph Lauren, with new takes on equestrian-influenced styles and northeast coastal codes.
Willy Chavarria included a range of branded garments and his own spin on a neighborhood grocer’s logo.
The designer showed two full collections on the runway, with the second being an Adidas collaboration.
Models line up backstage at Willy Chavarria in wide, belted pants, starched tailoring and a bunch of dangling keys as accessories.
Area played with markers of identity, uniformity and rebellion in the collection, repeating hand motifs throughout the collection.
This look, too, featured hands — with thousands of layered cutouts used to form a sculptural couture dress.
This season was Nanushka's 20th anniversary as a brand.
The label's history was chronicled in a series of recycled paper images and notes that dangled above the runway from the ceiling.
Model Precious Lee in an organza slip dress with a black drip motif. Gurung’s celebratory collection also had ties to the Hindu festival of Holi.
Gurung’s silk chiffon neck scarves trailed behind the models for a touch of airy elegance.
A powder blue sherwani-style jacket and mini dress made of multi-colored mylar strips.
Pink appeared throughout the collection as a nod to Holi, from this draped look to a finale where models released pink powder in the wind.
Brandon Maxwell worked with a new “stripped-down” approach to “American ease” this season, per the show notes.
The designer mades twists on classic summery styles, playing with opacity and dropped waists.
A multi-colored sequinned gown in Sergio Hudson’s 1960s-influenced collection.
Grace Ling has made breastplates for Jennifer Lopez and Radhika Merchant; her opening look for her sophomore show featured a draped gown with deconstructed metal armor worn by model Alex Consani.
Ling has developed a signature brand of dark fantasy with surrealist, sculptural metalworking. Her finale was a whirlwind of thorny branches and birds.
The architectural detailing of cathedrals repeated throughout Who Decides War’s latest collection.
Who Decides War creative directors Ev Bravado and Téla D'Amore featured an explosion of textures and unconventional silhouettes, including a multi-tiered streetwear take on bridal gowns.
A model walks the runway for the Off-White fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 8, 2024 in New York City.
The latest Off-White collection was inspired by Kamara visiting Ghana, where his predecessor Virgil Abloh was from.
In the show notes, Kamara — who is from Sierra Leone — recalls growing up feeling like New York was
 Jason Wu collaborated with the famed artist Tong Yang-Tze, featuring her sweeping Chinese calligraphy in an ethereal collection.
Tommy Hilfiger’s latest collection was a new take on nautical prep, with oversized and slouchy silhouettes.
Models wove around the floor of a decommissioned Staten Island Ferry permanently docked at the South Street Seaport.
This season, Sandy Liang was inspired by spy girls, secret agents and princesses — and built her collection accordingly with playfully cropped trench coats and satin '60s-style dresses.
From prom queen sashes to '80s puff-sleeved silhouettes, the brand's mission was to unite style and substance:
Continue Reading