Two times a year, in February, and in September, at Lincoln Center, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is the single largest media event in New York City.

The newest collections from apparel brands and designers are exhibited during fashion weeks. Usually, celebrities and fashion aficionados who demonstrate uniqueness in their appearance can initiate trends that make up the majority of participants at fashion weeks. Two times a year, in February and September, at Lincoln Center, one of the most renowned arts and cultural institutions in the world, Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is the single largest media event in New York City.

Eleanor Lambert started New York Fashion Week approximately 80 years ago, and it is still a major highlight for the fashion business every year. New York City has established itself as the centre of the fashion industry as the event’s host city. The focus of New York Fashion Week has changed over time from bridal gowns to a display of cutting-edge styles. More specifically, there have been numerous changes to New York City Fashion Week, including new names, new venues, and the addition of supermodels, and celebrity attendees. Despite the modifications, New York Fashion Week is still a legendary occasion. In the words of the New York City Week ad,

“We are more than just a fashion show, we are an experience”

The Background of New York Fashion Week

Prior to the establishment of New York City fashion week, companies would conduct fashion shows all year long, but they were only for designers and affluent New Yorkers and did not attract the same kind of attention as fashion week does now. Eleanor Lambert, a publicist, came up with the concept of fashion week in 1943, but it wasn’t officially termed that until 1990. The original Fashion Week was substantially different from what New York Fashion Week is today since it only featured bridal gowns and dresses. In contrast to New York City Fashion Week, which is only held primarily in one location during the Spring, Fashion Press Week was held in the Fall and the Spring and in several locales. The changes in fashion brought on by World War II served as inspiration for Fashion Press Week. Because the United States was shut off from the fashion industry for the first time during the Nazi occupation of France, New York City Fashion Week was established to support American fashion. Designers had to use locally made clothing for the first fashion week since Americans working in the fashion industry were unable to travel to France. It was determined that Fashion Week would take place in Bryant Park at the beginning of the 1990s.

Model’s Facial Expression’s

At the start of Fashion Week, models have made expressions and danced down the catwalk, appearing to be having fun. Models today take a straight line, shoulders back, and expressionless down the runway. Supermodels’ runway stride has been altered to draw emphasis to the dress, shoes, and accessories rather than the model.

 

1950s New York Fashion Week

Women wore ankle-length skirts and tightened waists on and off the runway throughout the 1950s. Following World War II, ladies could finally experiment with various fashions during this decade.

  

Christian Dior and Balenciaga’s New York Fashion Week shows had an impact on women’s and other designers’ collections with their couture gowns that stressed an hourglass silhouette, despite the WWII fabric shortage (Luxtailor, 2021). Because they produced a fresh feminine look that could be worn by women who stay at home or go to work, these gowns were well-liked and widely worn across America.

1960s New York Fashion Week

The most avant-garde and distinctive fashion styles emerged during New York Fashion Week in the 1960s. The miniskirt and minidress, which were immensely popular among young women in America this decade, were the most innovative style to come out of New York Fashion Week (Hello BigApple, 2020). With the help of this collection, both celebrities and regular American women adopted the “go-go girl” look, which consists of short straight dresses paired with tall white boots.

 

1970s New York Fashion Week

This decade saw the invention of denim and the success of Calvin Klein. Americans started noticing that everyone was wearing denim skirts, jackets, and flared bottoms and shopping for them. Williams (2019).

Although Woodstock was held in August of that year, American ladies were still sporting hippie attire at the beginning of the 1970s. However, as the decade went on, disco gained more and more popularity. One of the most well-liked New York Fashion Week designs from this decade debuted in 1975.

 

1980s New York Fashion Week

Supermodels walked the runway at New York Fashion Week for the first time in this decade. Having well-known supermodels walk the catwalk helped the designers establish the trends that were influencing Americans. Women’s athletic clothing was first shown on the runway by designers Betsy Johnson and Issey Miyake, who were well renowned for their extravagant designs.

 

1990s New York Fashion Week

This decade’s grungey runway fashion for ladies helped make the trend popular across the nation. Platform shoes, cropped tops, flannels, and leopard print were in style among American women at the time. In 1992, Marc Jacobs debuted his “grunge collection” on the runway, which featured ripped jeans, beanies, layered flannels, leather jackets, and baby doll outfits (Chochrek, 2019).

 

2000s New York Fashion Week

It became more common for celebrities to appear as guests on the runway during this decade. Because more individuals could now watch what designers were presenting on the runway in real-time because to the internet’s growth, New York Fashion Week was able to impact fashion more quickly than before. Many designers featured comparable items in their collections throughout this decade, including wide belts, large purses, low-rise pants, and dresses layered over jeans. Because the fashion was so distinctive from what was in vogue in 1990, these collections influenced trends for younger ladies across the nation.

 

2010s New York Fashion Week

Comparatively fewer women than in prior decades were seen walking down the catwalk in extravagant couture gowns during this decade. Instead, regular streetwear was being worn by the models as they walked down the runway. Beginning in the early 2010s, tight pants and skinny jeans were widely available in practically every store and very well-liked by women of all ages. Unfitted silhouettes began to appear more frequently on runways in the 2010s.

 

 2020s New York Fashion Week

The COVID-19 epidemic at the start of 2020 put the whole world on lockdown, thereby postponing New York Fashion Week until 2022. The Zendaya x Hilfiger brightly coloured blazers and Marc Jacobs neon knit sweaters were among the many colourful collections that flooded the catwalk at this period. Given that most Americans spent this year working from home and avoiding going out, it is challenging to compare collections from the runway to popular women’s clothes.

New York Fashion Week was all about fashion for the first time in a while, and designers presented vibrant and thrilling collections to help up the audience’s spirits as it was the first time Fashion Week was virtual. New York Fashion Week returned to being in-person in 2022 after a patient two-year wait. Nude colours and blouses with unusual silhouettes have grown in popularity among women over the last few months of 2022. Proenza Schouler featured several styles on the runway that featured puffy sleeves, various shades of brown, and tightened waists (Prant, 2022).

Numerous companies have adopted the runway styles, like Kim Kardashian’s Skims line, where much of the clothing comes in shades of nude, and Zara, which has lately gained popularity on Tik Tok for its distinctive women’s shirts.

 

New York Fashion Week September 2025

The September 2025 lineup for New York Fashion Week features established designers like Michael Kors, Alexander Wang, Christian Siriano, and Altuzarra, alongside international brands such as COS, Off-White, and Toteme. The week includes newcomers like Amir Taghi and SC103, with a full schedule available via the CFDA calendar.  

Here’s a breakdown of some of the designers and highlights for the September 2025 shows:

Returning Favorites 

• Michael Kors: is headlining the American Collections on September 11th.
• Alexander Wang: is back on the NYFW schedule.
• Other notable designers include Christian Siriano, Altuzarra, Area, and Calvin Klein.

Emerging and Debut Designers 

• The week welcomes new designers to the official schedule, such as Amir Taghi, Dwarmis, Lii, Maria McManus, Nardos, Raúl Peñaranda, Rùadh, and SC103.

Key Dates & Events 

• The American Collections begin on September 11th.
• The week concludes on September 16th.
• You can find the complete schedule on the CFDA website.

New York Fashion Week Newcomers

New York Fashion Week September 2025, some newcomers making their debut on the official schedule include 6397, Amir Taghi, Dwarmis, Lii, Maria McManus, Nardos, Raúl Peñaranda, Rùadh, and SC103. These emerging designers are showing alongside established names and are part of a lineup designed to showcase the best of American fashion on a global stage.  

Key Details for New York Fashion Week September 2025:

• Dates: September 11–16, 2025. 
• Newcomers: The official schedule features emerging designers such as 6397, Amir Taghi, Dwarmis, Lii, Maria McManus, Nardos, Raúl Peñaranda, Rùadh, and SC103. 
• Focus: The event will highlight both well-known American designers and emerging talent. 
• Beyond the Runway: The event extends beyond the official shows, with opportunities to explore emerging designers at the NYFW Pop‑Up Haus by Fashion Week Haus (September 11-17).