As tradition dictates, the new season in fashion begins in New York, and the Spring/Summer 2026 shows are about to set off fashion month with a surprisingly populated schedule. From American stalwarts to the city’s fizzing pool of emerging talent, here’s what to have on your radar for New York Fashion Week.
The curtain rises with a co-hosted dinner by Jacquemus and Veuve Clicquot. Only Simon Porte Jacquemus could manage to transform a champagne bottle into a collectible object of desire (just ask Dua Lipa, his eternal muse), and this partnership with France’s most effervescent maison feels destined to be Instagram catnip. The guest list? Whispers of A-listers so starry it threatens to eclipse the runway itself.
Come Wednesday, things get serious. Rachel Scott, freshly anointed as the new creative lead at Proenza Schouler, will unveil her debut in collaboration with the brand’s atelier. Scott, of course, is not content with just one outing: her own label, Diotima, beloved for its crochet and Caribbean-rooted craft, will stage its runway show the following Monday. A one-two punch of authority and authenticity.
The first official runway? Ralph Lauren. The godfather of American fashion, staging his show on the Upper East Side - a reminder that New York, with all its grit and hustle, also thrives on unapologetic glamour. His front rows are where Hollywood’s A-list collides with fashion’s elite, and if Taylor Swift (yes, she of the engagement Ralph Lauren dress) were to appear, well, the internet might implode. Lest the evening feel too demure, Valentino Beauty is resurrecting Studio 54 for a party certain to enter the annals of fashion week folklore.
Thursday morning belongs to Michael Kors. A rare schedule shift sees him show earlier than usual, but the Kors-isms will remain unshaken: bronzed goddesses in cashmere, a soundtrack to make you tap your foot, and enough jet-set polish to make you believe in Capri summers all over again. Later that day, Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada will provide the necessary counterpoint - riotous colour, subversive humour, and a refreshing refusal to bow to the establishment.
By the weekend, the baton passes to Calvin Klein Collection. Veronica Leoni’s sophomore collection is arguably the most anticipated of the season, following her razor-sharp February debut that recalibrated American minimalism for a new generation. If her front row was buzzy then, expect it to be a paparazzi scrum now. Meanwhile, Area, under the new creative direction of Central Saint Martins alumnus Nicholas Aburn, is tipped to continue its metamorphosis into one of the city’s most daring houses.
Saturday offers an embarrassment of riches: Eckhaus Latta’s art-inflected cool, Altuzarra’s polished romance, and Khaite, the it-girl’s uniform of choice, delivering its brand of louche luxury. Sunday keeps up the pace with COS, the H&M off-shoot that has stealthily positioned itself as a design-led contender with global reach. Add to that Sandy Liang, who has single-handedly made ballet flats and bows cool again; Gabe Gordon, whose sculptural tailoring is winning him fast devotees among the editorial set; Zankov, showing on Monday, known for joy-inducing knitwear that makes knit dressing thrilling again; and Luar, Raul Lopez’s cult-favourite label, adored for its off-kilter tailoring and viral Ana bag. Together, they form the city’s buzziest constellation of talent.
Elsewhere, Toteme, the Swedish label whose monastic minimalism has seduced the fashion cognoscenti from Stockholm to Seoul, lands in New York again. Expect the chicest crowd in town to descend. Then come the heavyweights: Coach, leaning into its heritage of Americana leather, and Tory Burch, who has never been more confident. Since stepping back from the corporate reins of her namesake brand, Burch’s collections have evolved with clarity and finesse, each season outdoing the last. Consider her the week’s closer - and closer to perfection with every show.
In short: New York is back at full throttle. The amuse-bouche before London, Milan, and Paris, yes, but this season the city is proving once more that it’s not just the beginning of fashion month, it’s the spark that lights the fire.
Henrik Lischke is the senior fashion news & features editor at Grazia. Prior to that, he worked at British Vogue, and was junior fashion editor at The Sunday Times Style.