All that was hot at New York Fashion Week Spring / Summer 2026

New York Fashion Week has long been fashion’s most unpredictable stage—one that thrives on reinvention while grounding itself in the DNA of American style. This season was no exception. Designers leaned into personal histories, urban narratives, and global references to deliver collections that moved between the cinematic and the intimate, the experimental and the effortlessly wearable. The result was a week that not only reflected where fashion stands today but also where it dares to go next.

Prabal Gurung

Prabal Gurung’s Spring Summer 2026 collection, titled Angels in America, brought together romance, politics, and cultural memory. Silhouettes drew inspiration from angel’s trumpet flowers, reimagined through brocade, cloqué, and airy drapery that recalled the saris of his upbringing. A palette of crimson, coral pinks, and sky blues softened into neutral trench coats and denim, balancing whimsy with grounded tailoring. The show closed with ethereal feather-trimmed gowns, a soaring note that reflected Gurung’s vision of inclusivity, beauty, and utopian optimism.

Bibhu Mohapatra

Bibhu Mohapatra embraced a new chapter defined by optimism, youth, and reinvention. Drawing energy from his return to India and the spirit of pioneering Indian women, his collection fused traditional forms with modern ease. Kurtas appeared alongside cargo pants and denim, while rhinestone crop tops and slouchy tailoring pushed his vocabulary into streetwear territory. Eveningwear retained its richness through embroidered silks, sequined surfaces, and fluid gowns, but was styled with a lighter, more contemporary hand. The interplay of saturated hues, practical detailing, and meticulous craft made this a collection about bridging heritage and a new, globally aware generation.

Calvin Klein

Veronica Leoni’s second collection for Calvin Klein honed in on the raw elegance of the New York cityscape. Minimalist at heart but cinematic in execution, the collection opened with clean pinafore dresses and sharp tailoring, evolving into lingerie-infused suiting and relaxed power pieces. Heritage Calvin codes—logo bands, denim, and underwear—were reimagined through couture treatments, from tweed dresses to street-ready boxer styles. The balance between intimacy, utility, and sex appeal crystallised Leoni’s modern vision for Calvin Klein: a brand rooted in American realism but styled for a global stage.

Cos

Cos returned to New York with its Fall 2025 collection, reaffirming its mastery of minimalism with a refined and wearable edge. Dark-hued silk turtlenecks, double-faced wool coats, and sculptural tailoring anchored the collection, while subtle nods to the 1950s lent femininity through open necklines and cinched waists. The styling was smart yet understated: heritage checks in sleek knits, breezy satin co-ords, and cocooning outerwear blurred lines between casual comfort and sharp design. It was power dressing at its most thoughtful.

Michael Kors

Michael Kors tapped into the spirit of escapism for Spring 2026, presenting a lineup infused with effortless glamour and laid-back sophistication. Drawing inspiration from seaside landscapes, the collection featured breezy pareo skirts, chiffon caftans, ribbed tanks, and harem pants rendered in sunrise tones and soft neutrals. Sharp tailoring gave way to fluid silhouettes, while accessories such as fringed handbags and sculptural leather jewellery amplified the relaxed luxe mood. With an inclusive casting and a star-filled front row, Kors once again demonstrated his ability to translate classic American sportswear into aspirational, globally relevant style.

Khaite

Khaite pushed the boundaries of quiet luxury into bolder terrain this season. Oversized polka dots enlivened sweeping skirts, while voluminous knitwear and architectural jackets blurred the line between wearability and statement-making. Tailoring came alive through sheer blouses, ribbon-tie collars, and pleated silks, reinforcing the brand’s reputation for elevated essentials with a daring twist. Playful pom-poms, two-toned denim, and fluttery ribbon details lent a theatrical quality to the collection, proving that Khaite’s language of modern femininity can encompass both drama and restraint.

Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren’s Spring 2026 show was a masterclass in elegance distilled to its purest form. Held at the brand’s Madison Avenue headquarters, the collection centred on a palette of red, white, and black, featuring sleek tailoring, sarong-inspired dresses, and sensual day-to-night silhouettes. Experimentation with fabric brought freshness to signature codes: patchwork slipdresses crafted from remnants, stretch-leather bustiers, and linen embroidered with fine Napa leather. Accessories like wide-brimmed hats, sculptural jewellery, and tactile handbags reinforced Lauren’s escapist yet modern vision. It was classic Ralph—timeless, graphic, and attuned to the woman of today.

The Spring Summer 2026 season in New York was about balance—between utility and romance, heritage and innovation, intimacy and spectacle. From Prabal Gurung’s ethereal florals to Ralph Lauren’s graphic minimalism, designers translated personal histories and cultural codes into clothing that felt both timely and timeless. In a city that thrives on reinvention, this season affirmed New York’s role as the stage where American fashion continues to redefine itself for the world.

 

Lead Images: Getty Images

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