Le Haute Trend ReporT

NEW YORKERS ARE A CULTURAL ICON

Resilient, direct, ambitious, diverse – we New Yorkers are a unique breed whose blend of strength, heart and creativity shows in how we dress and carry ourselves in our day-to-day. Designers have taken notice and nowhere was this better seen than at the Fall/Winter runway of Carolina Herrera who brought their show back after showing overseas last season. Under the creative direction of Wes Gordon, his collection drew inspiration from real New Yorker creatives, gallerists and entrepreneurs from past and present, whose world and influence have shaped the city’s art scene, and they weren’t just muses, they were also models who walked the show carrying the pieces they inspired.

The looks displayed included an array of power suit staples from button-up dresses, structured coats, high shoulder blazers to monochrome boardroom pairings, vibrant evening dresses with pops of print and the brand’s signature shade of red that screams personal expression. Because after all, if there’s one thing that characterizes us New Yorkers, it’s our unique sense of personal style.

BLACK IS NEW YORK’S
SIGNATURE COLOR
Blue is to Yves Klein what black is to New York – it’s an emblematic color that represents power, elegance, sophistication and is a staple in every New Yorkers’ wardrobe. It’s functional, easy to combine and instantly elevates any outfit – it’s practical for going from office to evening. Designers understood the assignment and everyone from Michael Kors, Sergio Hudson and even more whimsical names like Cult Gaia and Alice + Olivia had a variety of black and dark-toned offerings on the runway. Via voluminous shapes, dramatic lengths, fine tailoring, and textiles that included leather, fringe and other fine woven blends - black was a dominant theme this NYFW. For men we saw oversized coats, the return of the bomber jacket which if you saw our January issue, we’ve been predicting this to be one of 2026’s biggest trends, and we also saw relaxed-fitting pants. For ladies, flowy skirts and dresses, along with tailored top silhouettes were on the menu for what’s haute next season.

For those who want to add a little color, other honorable mention hues seen on the runway also include aubergine, purple, and various expressions of brown.

OUR ACCESSORY GAME IS STRONG

In a sea of winter coats and dark tones, an easy way to stand out is through incorporating accessories that provide contrast and tease a peek into the wearer’s personality. Accessories were an integral part of this past NYFW where specifically we saw ‘hatmaxxing’ in full effect, a focus on placing emphasis on headpieces where they are the center piece of the outfit rather than playing a supporting role. Pharrell Williams circa 2014 Grammys was ahead of his time.

This season we saw designers like Bronx & Banco and Aknvas who paired outfits with oversized fur ushankas that matched XL fur-covered bags. Seeing how NYC has recently become a tundra during winter, these hats have dual purpose outside of style, they’re ripe for braving those single digit frigid days. We also saw smaller bold handbags where it was more about quality and design than about size, as seen at both Coach and Tory Burch where handheld clutches are officially the new tote.

STREETWEAR WAS BORN IN NYC

Another popular trend on the runway was the continued appreciation for streetwear and pairing traditionally elevated pieces with more casual, day-to-day items. This high-low effect creates visual contrast and instantly exudes personal style and has become a signature component of any NYFW. Streetstyle is quintessential NYC, the same way we invented the ‘hold and fold’ for a slice on the go. No one perhaps played with this more than Coach, who took office staples like A-line skirts and trousers and paired them with sporty motif long-sleeved shirts and playful sneakers. The result was a comfortable mix of looks that anyone could wear grocery shopping, to hair appointments or to an evening night out at The Polo or Monkey Bar.

Overall, the takeaway for this season is rooted in one idea, New York is still very much the epicenter for fashion, whose charm captivates all those who come. While some designers may go and show elsewhere, they eventually find their way back. The city is an endless fountain of inspiration shaped by those of us who are lucky to call it home. Our unique backgrounds, point of views and creative ideas for expression are what give the city its zest. This vibrant medley, which you can only see here is still very much fueling and inspiring the fashion world, and this season proved that with a love letter that reads ‘New York, I love you.’