New York Fashion Week is not dead. 

Season after season, people try to call time of death on New York Fashion Week (NYFW) but the spirit of chaos and creativity in this city is unmatched. With 52 shows and 46 presentations, the Fall/Winter 2026 season has been an exhilarating ride. It brought together everyone–from industry mainstays and emerging designers to fashion-obsessed celebrities, critics, and influencers–to the busy streets of New York. 

There was so much going on: Marc Jacobs’s self-referential nod to the ‘90s; Tory Burch and Ralph Lauren’s introduction of modern essentials; A$AP Rocky’s fatherhood-inspired accessories; the highly anticipated debut of Rachel Scott at Proenza Schouler; and much more. We sift through all these major NYFW moments to curate a list of the best collections. 

Take a look at the best Fall/Winter 2026 looks from New York Fashion Week. 

Tory Burch 

With so many designers looking to the past for inspiration, Tory Burch manages to make her study of history still stand out. Her interpretation of old-school dressing–such as 1920s drop-waist frocks, 1950s corduroy trousers, Peter Pan collars, ruffled linings, and traditional military jackets–is distinctly made for the present with modern fabrics, ultra-sharp tailoring, and practical layered styling. “The mix reflects how women dress now: by instinct, not rules,” writes Burch. 

“No one exemplified this quite like Bunny Mellon, the iconic horticulturist, landscape designer and philanthropist. This collection introduces the Bunny Knot, a detail inspired by a quilted cushion I found in her Antigua home. The simple knot is a reminder of connection, strength and unity.” The Bunny Knot fonts finds itself on sweaters, quilted bags, and pilgrim-inspired shoes. 

Proenza Schouler

Rachel Scott made headlines in 2024 for becoming the first black female designer to win the CFDA Awards; her subsequent appointment as the creative director of Proenza Schouler, stepping into the shoes of Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, was celebrated by the fashion community, widely regarded as a continuation of Proenza Schouler’s craft-forward legacy. Scott’s debut Fall/Winter 2026 collection met, and indeed, exceeded, the world’s high expectations. Seamlessly adapting to the brand’s design language, she played with cut and colour in her garments and accessories, notably reviving the archival Hex bag, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary.

Diotima

At her own fashion brand, Diotima, launched in 2021, Scott continues to “present a seductive and nuanced vision of Caribbean style, looking to the future while remaining grounded in history and [her] lived experience as a Jamaican.” For this collection, she finds inspiration in Afro-Chinese Cuban painter Wifredo Lam’s works, including the Femme-Cheval (Horse-Woman) series, depicting the Afro-Cuban chimeric deity first introduced around 1948. “A counter-image to colonial fantasy, she transforms the object of desire into a figure of spiritual and cultural power,” Scott writes. It’s a powerful starting point, especially when paired with Scott’s decision to work with Refugee Atelier, a local organisation which provides refugee women training in artisanal textile skills. Deliberately or not, the equestrian elements–riding jackets, shaggy coats, and a horse-inspired texture palette–presented during the show also lined up with the incoming zodiac year of the horse. 

Calvin Klein 

There has been an uptick of public interest in Calvin Klein as a result of FX’s Love Story, which depicts John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette’s tragic romance; the latter was a mid-level PR executive at Calvin Klein before marrying into one of the most prominent American political dynasties. With this renewed interest, creative director Veronica Leoni was ready to impress with its latest collection, reminding us of what we loved about Calvin Klein from the late ‘70s and 80s. Clean, sharp lines in the outerwear meet sheer, form-fitting inner layers, a visual nod to Calvin Klein’s iconic underwear collections. 

Marc Jacobs

Entitled Memory, Marc Jacobs’s Fall/Winter 2026 collection takes us through his professional history. “Surfacing on their own, memories shape, influence and inform. Free from nostalgia, recovering the past also reminds us that loss is inevitable and that hope is work,” writes Jacobs in his official show notes. That is why his latest creations, while familiar, feel fresh. He even lists his self-references: his Perry Ellis Spring 1993 show, his Fall/Winter 1995 and Spring/Summer 1998 and 2013 collection, and his Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer 2003 collection. From here, we get the grunge-inspired plaid skirts, bejewelled blouses, and box-cut cropped shirts. 

Notably, Jacobs also credits Helmut Lang, Yves Saint Laurent, Stüssy, X-Girl, and Prada as inspiration for this collection, contextualising the rebellious elements of the collection, from the convention-defying straight silhouettes to ultra-short leather shorts and opulent ruffles. 

AWGE

Among the buzziest celebrity appearances was Rihanna’s at her partner, A$AP Rocky’s surprise show in New York City–rivalled only by the presence of the city’s First Lady Rama Duwaji in the front row of Diotima. The collection is undeniably infused with the spirit of A$AP Rocky, who is steadily expanding his fashion portfolio as the ambassador of Chanel, creative director of Ray-Bans and collaborator with Puma, Guess, Adidas, and Moncler. In particular, it introduces fatherhood-inspired accessories, such as the inflated baby carrier and stroller, alongside ensembles with clashing elements of work attire, racing details, and preppy plaid. 

Kim Shui

Taking the prize for the best staging, Kim Shui presents her Fall/Winter 2026 during a scenic boat ride on the Hudson River, with New York City’s iconic skyline as the backdrop. She continues to explore her Chinese-American heritage, reinterpreting classic Chinese textiles and techniques. This time, her focus lies in the traditional Chinese knotting, which finds its way onto seductive silhouettes crafted from rich, auspicious-coloured fabrics with opulent (and detachable!) fur trimmings.

Ralph Lauren 

Ralph Lauren oscillates between designing for the great outdoorsman and city-slicker. Following his ultra-sleek Spring/Summer 2026 creations, he taps back into the same adventurous spirit of his cowboy-inspired Fall/Winter 2025 collection. This time, he constructs a wardrobe that is reminiscent of that for a royal hunt through the forests. Thick wool coats, some with leopard-print shearling, are layered over garments made from tweed, silk jacquard, velvet and knitted cashmere. Leather accents appear in corsets, riding boots, and low-slung belts. There are flashes of chainmail. Ralph Lauren’s modernist take on medieval elements doesn’t just take us outside; it takes us through time. 

7 For All Mankind

This show marks the debut of Nicola Brognano as 7 For All Mankind’s creative director; the Italian designer was previously at the helm of Blumarine. In this collection he brings his trademark Y2K-inspired aesthetic to the denim brand, leading many to exclaim that indie sleaze, a trend originated by millennials and growing in popularity among Gen Z, is officially back.