NYFW: 11th - 13th Honorary mentions

Welcome to NYFW - Honorary Mentions. Those that didn't make the cut to get their own post but were still worth documenting! We are mid-way through NYFW today, but can't make you wait any longer for these Runway Reviews!

Some from emerging designers, some from debuting creatives with lots of experience, some even from prestigious fashion houses - they are in here for the wrong reasons.

So without further ado - in chronological order below are the honorary shows from the 11th - 13th September at New York Fashion Week...

L’Enchanteur (CFDA Grant Winner) - 11th September @4pm 

L’Enchanteur held their show yesterday (11th September) at NYFW. The show marked the brand's runway debut for this season, featuring designs with symbolic elements like keys and faces, characteristic of the brand's jewelry and garment offerings.

The brand is run by sisters Soull and Dynasty Ogun, who previously won the CFDA / Vogue Fashion Fund back in 2024, and so had a lot to live up to! Specialising in metalwork, jewelry, textiles, fibers, and accessories. Which are all prominent in this collection. 

The collection centred around a theme of “shifting dynamics, frequencies, and consciousness”, which definitely comes across in this show. The collection had a variety of fabrics, some that could be comparable to a bin-bag. As well as others using recycled materials. The colourway of the collection was bright and there was a strong sense of textile work. With hand drawn prints etc… 

Some of the looks featured facemasks, bright contacts, and almost all of the models had their toes out! Not sure what the thought process was behind that. However they are known for their mystical, futuristic flair and this show definitely maintained this energy. Overall the collection was a bit 50/50 for me, some of it was coming off far too experimental for my liking, and some pieces that were really lovely.

See the entire collection here: https://uk.fashionnetwork.com/galeries/photos/L-Enchanteur,72729.html

Collina Strada - 11th September @6pm 

A distinctly unique and beautiful show took place on the 11th September in New York. Collina Strada merged everyday pieces with styles fit for the runway. With a total of 45 looks, there were duo models strutting side by side down the open runway - beautiful location with the brooklyn bridge in the background, along with a NYC skyline! 

Each model you could tell was hand selected as every look suited them perfectly, with a large age range and an array of diversity on display. The models walked in duos in opposing colourways. Identical looks in dark shades and lighter shades side by side, this dynamic worked very well with the colour contrast side by side! 

Included in this display was a white bridal look, paired next to an almost identical black bridal look. The colour palette was VERY strong, with a large amount of Black to juxtapose the lighter shades of whites, creams, pink, and green. Patterns which showed up were a variation of plaids as well as taking me back to 2016 with some tie-dye!!! 

A standout feature of the collection was the hair! They had somehow constructed a baseball cap out of hair on many of the models. Something I can say I haven’t seen before - which is rare now as fashion has evolved so much! The accessorising was very strong, with selected jewels hanging from skirts and trousers. Love this collection and the creative minds who put the ideas together!  

See the full collection here: https://www.showstudio.com/collections/spring--summer-2026/collina-strada-ss-26

Maria McManus - 12th September @ 9am 

With 22 total looks within the collection this minimalist, sustainability-driven designer really put together a cohesive and refined show. With a lot of designers going for sometimes quantity over quality, McManus went for quality and gave 21 high quality and sustainability driven pieces. 

She provided us with simplistic cuts, tailoring, and a refined colour palette of White, Black, Beige and hints of blue, pink, red, and khaki. Once again the tomato hue of red got a prominent feature. Making it 100% a colour to watch for in the coming seasons… 

In particular I am a fan of Look 6 & 7 with Look 6 featuring a 3D Pom Pom effect crochet dress, floating tassels towards the bottom and a matching coloured shirt tied strategically over one shoulder.

Everything looks very purposeful, look 7 also features this purposeful tone with a beautifully cut cream dress paired with a tomato red bag (which i love!) , as well as brown beaded necklace and statement shoes. 

While simplistic in some areas the entire show was very well put together and as an emerging designer with a firm focus on sustainability Maria McManus is definitely one to watch because she knows her niche and does it well! 

See the entire collection here - https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2026-ready-to-wear/maria-mcmanus

Calvin Klein - 12th September @ 12pm 

Oh my god. That was so disappointing. With Calvin Klein now under the creative direction of Veronica Leoni, her sophomore collection had fashion lovers excited, hopeful even, that a fresh vision was on the horizon. But boy, were we wrong. 

Instead of a bold new chapter, we got a collection that felt flat, recycled, and depressingly forgettable. And let’s be honest — being called “forgettable” is the last thing you want in a debut collection.

Think: plain white mini dresses. Simplistic-cut midi dresses. More of the same monochromatic, minimalist looks we’ve seen trotted down the runway a million times before. I was planning to write a full post on the Calvin Klein show, but frankly, it had to be downgraded after witnessing the painfully average display of talent.

There was one look that caught my attention — a uniquely cut black and copper satin shirt with exposed skin and a bold silhouette. I’ll admit, it was cool. But sadly, it didn’t match anything else in the collection. Then came the fringed dresses in brown and pink — clearly referencing the '60s but also giving strong Cookie Monster energy. Was it a Muppet? Who knows.

And don’t even get me started on look 12. The poor model was dressed in what can only be described as a nappy made from a curtain. It was genuinely shocking. And a lot of the looks shared the same simplistic bandana headband which was a pitiful attempt to add some accessory to the looks. 

Overall, I’m unimpressed, as you can probably tell. The trench coats and blazers were fine, but they weren’t anything we haven’t already seen 20 times this season. We need more. More creativity. More risk. More vision.

Because right now? This just isn’t cutting it.

See the entire collection here - https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2025-ready-to-wear/calvin-klein-collection/slideshow/collection

Alice + Olivia - 13th September @3pm

Look 33

July 4, 2026 will mark America’s 250th birthday, and Stacey Bendet - Creative Director and Founder of Alice + Olivia wanted their Spring 2026 collection to meet the moment. Bendet decided to host her presentation at the Surrogate’s Court in downtown Manhattan.

Stars, stripes, lace, and an abundance of garden-party florals took centre stage. This season’s collection paid homage to many different contrasting themes including: the timeless beauty of florals, all things stripes, Patriotism, delicate beadwork & pastels.

Presented not on a traditional runway, but rather as a presentation within a grand hall complete with a sweeping balcony and a towering American flag, the setup allowed each look to command attention. Models stood in tableau, transforming the space into a living lookbook of each theme whether it be florals, pastels, embellished opulence, patriarchy, or stripes! 

We were met with different scenes of each theme, dividing the collection into snippets of the brands ideology. One that stood out to me was the romantic elegance: a parade of gowns and separates adorned with delicate beadwork, intricate embroidery, and layers upon layers of 3D florals.

Pastels reigned supreme, and there was a softness to the tailoring. A standout piece was a lilac gown with cascading floral appliqué down the bodice and skirt which was a clear favourite. Other highlights included meticulously beaded jackets, feminine lace details, and whimsical tulle.

In stark contrast, another half of the collection leaned heavily into American iconography. There was a tailored red suit, dresses splashed with prints featuring stars, stripes, cowboys, horses, and even dirt.

While the colour palette felt cohesive, this patriotic portion of the collection felt slightly off base in comparison to the other scenes presented - at least for me personally.

However, one dress made a memorable attempt to bridge the worlds. Bendet’s interpretation of Lady Liberty: a model standing on the balcony wearing a rhinestone-encrusted iteration of the statue’s diadem and dressed in a billowing white floral dress that draped over the entryway. A clever and theatrical (which I always appreciate) attempt to merge the two opposing sections.

Love it or leave it, the collection was certainly bold - half chic, half patriotic, and fully Alice + Olivia, they always manage to go above and beyond, creating about 6 separate collections and merging them into one presentation that tells the observer a story. 

See the full collection here – https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/spring-2026-ready-to-wear/alice-olivia/slideshow/collection

See a video of the collection here - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOjhrGaj4uw/?igsh=MXJycjk2OGdlNzgw

We've still got plently to come! With another 3 days of shows heading our way. I'm sure you will be on the edge of your seats waiting for the next set of Honorable mentions. Until then read our influx of articles coming onto the blog every day of FW! See you in the next one!

With love,

Mimi x