New York Fashion Week is finally back, and we’re pulling back the curtain on the much-publicized, oft-misunderstood event.
What is New York Fashion Week, anyway?
New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a biannual event during which designers—most of them based in New York City—show next season’s women’s collections to press, buyers, and notable guests. (More on that below.) It takes place in early September (for the upcoming spring-summer collections) and early February (fall-winter) and is the first major stop of Fashion Month each season, followed by London, Milan, and Paris. This season it runs from Thursday, September 11, through Tuesday, September 16.
Although it can seem like a carousel of outlandish looks and ultrawealthy attendees—and, to a certain extent, it is—this is mostly a business conference centered on fabulous clothing. Yes, attendees want to look good, but plenty of them are dressing for comfort and have laptop bags slung over their shoulders. NYFW itself is programmed by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and the only official events are the runways and presentations included on the CFDA’s calendar. Countless brands also throw parties and host pop-ups, some of which are open to the public.
Who gets to go to New York Fashion Week?
NYFW is an event for industry professionals, and the majority of showgoers belong to a few key groups, each of which help publicize or sell the brands that invite them:
- Press: This group includes editors, writers, critics, photographers, and bloggers. Some of them review shows; others pull looks for magazine shoots; yet others are there to spot trends. (The Devil Wears Prada 2 can’t come fast enough.)
- Buyers: Whenever you go shopping at a department store, you’re looking through the work of buyers, or the people who determine which products will be stocked. They’re there to inspect quality and determine which pieces will be most in demand next season.
- Stylists: Stylists dress celebrities and other high-powered clients, meaning they’re always on the hunt for new looks. After the shows, they coordinate with brands to pull pieces and entire looks for red carpets, galas, shoots, and other events.
- Celebrities: A-listers, reality stars, influencers, and other notables fall into this group, which has become increasingly important for getting eyes on each collection. They’re often paid to attend and wear a certain brand, although this isn’t always the case.
Which celebrities will be at New York Fashion Week?
While it’s impossible to say just who might show up to this season’s shows before they happen, we have a few theories. Last season, the bigger shows drew names like Katie Holmes, Emily Ratajkowski, Greta Lee, Meghann Fahy, Chloë Sevigny, and Tracee Ellis Ross. Expect to see brand ambassadors, like Lola Tung for Coach, at the big shows. Real Housewives from every franchise often pop up on the NYFW circuit, and supermodels like Irina Shayk, Kendall Jenner, Precious Lee, Alex Consani, and Paloma Elsesser are also fixtures on the runway. But really, expect the unexpected—everyone from Jojo Siwa to Avril Lavigne could show up.
Who are the most exciting designers at New York Fashion Week?
There are dozens of shows, presentations, and previews on and off the official schedule this season, and we try to go to pretty much everything. The big stories this time around are 10-year anniversary shows for Brandon Maxwell and Monse, plus debut shows from the likes of SC103 and Maria McManus. And while we always look forward to huge productions like Michael Kors, Khaite, Calvin Klein, and Coach, these are our editors’ most-anticipated labels for the spring-summer 2026 season.
