As each fashion week wraps up, we slowly open our trends lists and check things off. Drop waists? Check. Smoky eyes? Check. East-West bags? You guessed it, they’re there. But along with what’s currently popular, we also spotted new trends being created on the runways while others cemented trends that were slowly brewing, adding the final stamp of approval. Here’s what caught our eye and what we’re loving lately.
Short Bold Nails
With the exception of Khaite’s silver claws, nails this season kept things lowkey. Most runways opted for short bare nails, while Tory Burch and Michael Kors switched things up with a deep palette to match the season’s mood.
Leather Gloves
Although gloves have been trending for a while now, we’re loving how leather gloves were incorporated in this season! For most runways, gloves took on a second skin-like feeling, seamlessly blending in with the outfit. Of course, this trend also comes at a more practical time as New York currently experiences a snowstorm.
Experimental Layering
And considering that snowstorm, layering has become a means of survival more than anything else. But, if there’s anything the designers this week told us, it is that layering can be fun and fashionable. The modest dressers here know the art of layering all too well, so it was a pleasant surprise to see textures and prints experimented through layering over at Michael Kors, Coach, and Collina Strada.
Dramatic Shoulders
A trend that’s been carried over from last season, this season’s take on dramatic shoulders gives Jacob Elordi a run for his money. Michael Kors incorporated wide shoulders through their jackets, while Carolina Herrera went for the more subtle approach, allowing the shoulders to melt into balloon sleeves. Calvin Klein by far had the most dramatic version; Khaite kept things boxy with theirs, incorporating them into cropped jackets; and Collina Strada went for the rounded approach, making their shoulders look like comically large shoulder pads.
Furry Accents
Fur isn’t going anywhere this season. Both on and off the runways, fur coats were everywhere. But fur also got an upgrade as stoles and as an accent fabric.
Bold Brooches
Brooches as a statement have been coming up as a trend for a while now, and this season just cemented it. At Tory Burch, sardine brooches gave a fun, whimsical look, while at Coach, star brooches were a motif that furthered the narrative of American fashion archetypes.
Ruff Collars
While some were using scarves to protect their necks, some designers went the Shakespearean route. At Carolina Herrera, ruff collars were subtly incorporated, wide and expansive so as to not cling to the neck. The opposite can be said for Collina Strada and Coach, who weren’t shy of showing off the ruffled collar.
Perfectly “Messy” Hair
While an oxymoron, we did watch hair slowly become intentionally messy, where their messines originates from perfection. Calvin Klein did it best with a super-wet look featuring comb marks and haphazardly swept to the side, as if the hair was washed clean mere moments before appearing on the runway. Whereas Collina Strada went for the more haggard approach, making seemingly “perfect” hairstyles look lived in.
Everything Assymetrical
Jacquemeus’ Le Palmier’ began a ripple effect on the runways. Everything is suddenly asymmetrical. Hemlines, necklines, and styling, we’re seeing a shift from clean cut perfection to looks where something is not quite right. At Jacquemeus, it was obvious with the fountain hair and uneven earrings, while some shows like Proenza Schouler went the subtle route with uneven makeup, complete with half-done lipstick that slightly distorts the face.
Retro Bob
Bobs are always a staple during fashion week but the kind of bob that frequently appears is what we keep our eyes out for. This season, retro styled bobs are appearing more frequently on the runways—medium length and finished with a kiss curl. Tolu Coker and Conner Ives were some of the runways where we spotted this fancy up-do, delicately framing the face.
Fancy Brows
While we rarely see anything crazy going on with the brows, historically, they have oscillated between thick and thin. This season, designers have begun to use brows as part of their wider storytelling, allowing them to sculpt or make a statement. We saw the latter at Simone Rocha, where models were given multiple hoop piercings. Whereas British label LABRUM pulled focus with gold stamps right above the eyebrow, mimicking the collection’s patterns.
Vampy Grey
Mainly seen on Richard Quinn’s presentation at London Fashion Week, models were seen all sporting a faint grey eyeshadow which stood out against their minimal makeup and slick back buns. It was edgy, slightly sickly, but perfectly encapsulating the mood of the Autumn-Winter season.
Off to the Side
While side parts and slick backs are a common hairstyle within runways, this season saw the rise of the extreme side part. Beginning from one ear, hair was swept across the scalp to the other side. Possibly an oscillation from the typical Gen-Z middle part, the side part further adds to the trend of asymmetry while still remaining polished.
Nude Lips
Almost similar to the vampy style of Richard Quinn, runways like Gucci and Mugler utilised a nude tone to give off that sickly, pale vibe. Gucci paired it with heavy contouring and ultra-dark eye makeup, making the nude lips a reference to ‘90s era makeup. Whereas Mugler had their models in a yellowish-orange shade paired with simplistic makeup and defined brows.
Hidden in the Hair
One styling feature that stood out among the runways was hair accessories. In Haute Couture Week, this was prevalent, often adding to the collection. However, Ready-to-Wear chose to skip these accessories, allowing hair to be sculpted into a hairdo instead. All but Chloé, who let hair roam free and wildly, staying true to their boho-chic codes. And within braids and untamed frizz were gold wires and clips, subtly adding definition to the hair. While you could find the polished version of this in many South Asian cultures, we see how the unkempt one is displayed at Chloé, showing us that hair can still be cool and stylish even when it’s not combed.
Colourful Faces
Swaying in the opposite direction of nudes and greys were Diesel, Antionia Marras, Chanel, Acne Studios, Vivienne Westwood and more. From soft glitters that delicately framed the face to metallic lips and colourful wings, faces were another canvas to tie in looks, and narratives, together.
Low Ponys
Seen mainly on Fendi’s runway, models had their hair styled in a sleek low pony. And when hair on runways is usually updos and sculptural, this switch stood out. But paired with the collared accessories that were styled as chokers, this hair statement was probably Maria Grazia Chiuri’s subtle way of honouring Karl Lagerfeld.
Bigger and Bigger
Bold, chunky jewellery has spent the entirety of 2025 cementing itself as the next jewellery trend. And this season, the trend continues in grander ways. At Saint Laurent, we see a continuation of statement earrings, whereas Polo Ralph Lauren features silhouettes that are similar to traditional South Asian jewellery. Paired with the Western-style boho belts that are the fashion-forward’s current obsession, we see how the runways aim to continue the line of chunky jewellery.
Season’s Colours
And with every fashion season, its signature colour follows shortly behind. This season, we saw an overwhelming amount of red, be it burnt red, brick red, or bright, tomato red. Pops of pink followed after, most notably at Balenciaga and Chanel. Chocolate brown also continues to make appearances and it seems like that colourway won’t be shaken off anytime soon. And another colour that took root this season was grey. Between dresses at Gucci and eyeshadow at Richard Quinn, grey has become the season’s colour for denoting the harshness of the Autumn-Winter season.
