New York Fashion Week 2025: An Ode to Self-Expression

New York Fashion Week, a distinguished fashion event native to the Big Apple, exhibited its Autumn/Winter 2025 Collection from Feb.6-Feb.11. 

Known for promoting self-expression, the event showcased the latest trends from world-renowned brands such as Ralph Lauren and Marc Jacobs

This season featured the highly anticipated return of Calvin Klein after a near seven-year hiatus. Combined with impressive off-schedule shows—such as the Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer 2025 runway—the 2025 NYFW was one for the history books.

The designs this season were packed with minimalistic themes and strong, lingering messages. A notable example was the Marc Jacobs Spring/Summer collection, which reflected imaginative freedom with intricate dresses, abstract shapes and colorful designs. The collection was beautifully done, despite it being timed a bit oddly. Perhaps that was the designer’s purpose after all—to remain unpredictable.

While some American critics expressed their discontent with this season’s trends, many foreign critics spoke up about the global impact of the event and its semi-annual appearances. 

French communications guru Lucien Pagès shared this sentiment in an interview with Vogue: “I came back to Paris and the people I met told me, ‘wow, New York looks so exciting.’ I have the feeling that only American journalists complain about NYFW; the rest of the world is very excited by what’s going on there.” 

Also celebrated were rising luxury designers who pay homage to their heritage and culture, such as Tia Adeola, Son Jung Wan, and Naoko Tosa. By hosting these designers, NYFW 2025 served as an ode to unique perspectives, embracing creative freedom and imagination.

The theme of this year’s NYFW is expressed in luxury fashion designer Marc Jacobs’ show notes, “With precious freedom we dream and imagine without limitation… not to escape from reality but to help navigate, understand and confront it.” 

Jacobs’ statement was a sentiment shared by many, if not all, designers during the week. It encapsulated the season’s theme, which aims to comfort communities in times of political dismay.

Although the 2025 NYFW Autumn/Winter Collection lacked the support of major brands like Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren, and received extensive criticism for its simple nature, it carried on nonetheless. Resilience and strong will marked the runway, both literally and figuratively, as luxury brands like Coach invested in a minimalistic leather/wool theme.

 With show-stopping moments present, like Veronica Leoni’s debut as creative director of collection for Calvin Klein, New York Fashion Week had a bit of everything. While it may not have impressed some, it definitely impacted all.

And while we wait for the next NYFW season and its certain innovation, we should most definitely remain buttoned to the top, as expressed by Lily-Rose Depp, with a beautiful Thom Browne trench coat.