Fashion Month's Opening Act: NYFW Shows You Can’t Miss
- Mimi Piqua
- Sep 10
- 5 min read
September is the month that provides fashion lovers with enough ammunition and conversation points to last until a much needed top-up in February. And this set of shows could set history with an almost absurd amount of Creative Director changes. It’s the biggest season I've ever witnessed in my lifetime and I am so eager to see what all the ridiculously talented designers and their enormous teams are ready to serve us for the next season.
Starting off tomorrow in one of the most fashion crazed cities in the world. New York. With over 60 shows and presentations set to take place over the week. The fun starts tomorrow with designers such as Ulla Johnson, Michael Kors, Forme, Alexander Wang, and so many more. I couldn't be more excited.
My personalised PDF for New York Fashion Week is shown below -
Or you can find the clear (unedited by mimi) schedule linked below -
New York: New York Fashion Week
The talent that goes into putting together one singular fashion show is beyond fathomable. From those on the front lines creating a vision, from Creative Director, to designers, pattern makers, sketchers, fabric sourcers, seamstresses, embroiderers, stylists, ateliers.
To those who manage and organise the logistics - garment technicians, production managers, assistants, casting directors, producers, light & sound directors.
To those who deal with RSVPs and guestlists, PR team, photographers, and social media team. And finally to those you see on the big screen, the models themselves & the gigantic team behind them - stylists, makeup artists, hairstylists. The list goes on and on.
A small, emerging designer still requires at least 10-30 people to even make a collection to show feasible. Whereas mid level brands will have from 30 - 70 people on hand throughout the process, and even larger brands way into the hundreds. There are approximately over 350 fashion shows each season. CRAZY. The amount of talent that showcases is insane. It would be near impossible for one person to track them all. So I am going to provide you with ones you cannot miss, from classics, to emerging designers, and debuting talent.
There are so many amazing designers showcasing at NYFW. I’ve split these into 3 separate categories to make it easier to prioritise which shows you want to watch! Hope it’s helpful, I know I’ve marked my calendar for a handful of these shows.
Can’t-Miss Shows
Established names and major moments guaranteed to dominate headlines and social media. There are 11 i’ve marked on the pdf, the shows you absolutely cannot miss:
Michael Kors - The official kickoff: September 11th @11am - Marking the formal launch of the American Collections. Always polished and packed with celebs. You cannot miss the opening show to fashion month! Will they bring back the vintage vibes? Or channel a more futuristic vibe, or maybe they’ll play it safe...
Off‑White - September 12th @4pm - A return to NYFW. The return of a streetwear powerhouse under Kamara’s bold editorial direction.
Alexander Wang - September 12th @9:30pm - A high-profile return, likely to be dramatic and high-energy. The show coincides with the anticipated calendar debut of SC103 (a must see emerging designer)
Tibi (Amy Smilovic) - September 13th @10am - A minimalist fan-favorite for cool-girl tailoring. I am so eager to see what's in store for this one.
Jason Wu - September 14th @5pm - Known for elegance and celebrity clients, always a crowd-puller.
Toteme - September 15th @10am - Quiet luxury with Swedish refinement.
So many other NYFW classics also return to the runway such as: Collina Strada, Tory Burch, Coach, Khaite, and Ulla Johnson. All returning to deliver their new collections through the weekend. Ensuring the runway stays grounded in classic, polished aesthetics from reliable favourites.
Debuts and Comebacks to Watch
Designers or brands either showing for the first time, making major transitions, or relaunching under new creative direction:
Nicholas Aburn at Area - September 12th @10am - A debut collection from the former Balenciaga couture designer. It is always exciting to see a renowned creative director transition and see what they do with the new creative freedom. Expect technical excellence with a subversive edge.
Calvin Klein Collection (Veronica Leoni) - September 12th @12pm - Her sophomore collection could redefine the brand's trajectory under her new leadership
Fforme (Frances Howie) - September 12th @2pm - Another sophomore show, gaining traction for sculptural minimalism.
Emerging Designers
Designers who could potentially be the future of fashion, emerging talent has to be given a chance to make waves with fresh perspectives. Below are a few of my favourite up and comers at NYFW:
Maria McManus - September 12th @9am - Minimalist, sustainability-driven, and refined.
Zane Li (Lii) - September 16th @3pm - An up and comer, pushing experimental silhouettes.
L’Enchanteur - September 11th @4pm - CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund winner; known for mystical, futuristic flair. This is a must watch. I even have it in my calendar. I mean, they won the Vogue Fashion Fund! Come on.
SC103 - September 11th @4pm - Conceptual accessories label making its calendar debut in the big leagues.
I am so eager for the first of the four fashion weeks to start! We’ll be reporting across all 4 cities throughout the month. Telling you beforehand all the shows you need to be on the lookout for, possibly even book time off work ( i know i would).
From emerging designers to debuts with new creative leads. I’ll spare no one's feelings (and that’s a promise) I’ll be with you each and every step of the way. Reporting live twice a week. Mid week reports on what's been good so far and what’s to come. As well as of course an end of week review reporting firsthand what's MAJOR and what was hated.
With schedules focusing on a mix of heritage brands, debuts, and emerging talents. I’m overjoyed and slightly unnerved to see what masters such as Chanel, Loewe, Gucci etc have up their sleeves. As well as the most anticipated debuts of new creative leads - link below to our blog post all about this insane Creative Director swapover.
But above all else i'm excited to see what emerging talents, the future of fashion have to offer. I love emerging designers because they have more to prove, more to work for - which gives them edge, a much needed characteristic when in the face of fashion.
I hope you’ve gained some knowledge and filled your calendars with this info, there are so many more amazing shows coming after NYFW. It just gets better and better, I cannot wait for the grand finale of fashion month. Paris Fashion Week. The mother of all mothers. But while we remain waiting for that one, I'll fill you in on all there is to know before we get there.
With love, mimi
xox
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