"The looks don’t feel fresh, most of them resembling styles that have already been done before." (Jaziya McDonald - Staff Writer)
Every September, fashion week kicks off in New York for big-name brands to showcase their spring and summer collections. It’s a time when designers, models, and industry insiders pour into the city to see what people will be wearing for the next season. However, the buzz for the shows in the big city has been noticeably lower compared to London, Milan, and Paris. While each of those cities maintains its status of exclusivity and artistic risk, New York’s shows lately feel less like an essential event in fashion culture and more like a routine showcase.
Once an iconic, must-see event that fashion lovers dreamed of attending, this year’s New York Fashion Week (NYFW) has left both critics and fans underwhelmed. The energy that used to dominate the streets of Manhattan seems dimmed. For those who have followed the shows for many years, the fashion this time around seems uninspired and isn’t on the same level of conversation as previous years. This year’s NYFW just felt like another week on the calendar, overshadowed by the hype being generated for the European shows.
The shows this year seem overly commercial and lacking innovation. Not to mention the number of influencers not only in the audience but also walking the runway. The absence of A-list celebrities was hard to ignore, especially when those same names turn up for London, Paris, and Milan without hesitation.
Fashion insiders have been vocal about the creative drought of NYFW. This season’s collections looking and feeling interchangeable has been a common complaint among the public.
“I went to 17 shows. It felt like five,” said Lauren Sherman, a fashion journalist who called out the lack of standout looks at this year’s shows.
Most shows have leaned into safe silhouettes and commercial trends instead of delivering bold statements or new ideas. Designers for European shows fight to make their shows unforgettable. In New York, too many shows blur together, exposing the lack of creativity and how much NYFW has lost its reputation.
Even big brands like Calvin Klein left fashion insiders disappointed with the lack of individuality and repetitiveness.
Personally, NYFW has left me underwhelmed. The looks don’t feel fresh, most of them resembling styles that have already been done before, rather than pushing boundaries and experimenting with something new. The lack of risk-taking among designers made the looks feel toneless, especially compared to the bold looks from other fashion weeks.
On top of that, the star power just wasn’t there. Instead of A-list celebrities filling the front rows and top models walking the runway, I saw influencers, many of whom I don’t follow, filling those spots. It made this NYFW feel like a content grab, and not a cultural event.
The week-long event was once a convention of creativity, a place where designers pushed boundaries and redefined culture. The current state of the shows makes it clear that the event has lost much of that spark. Instead of innovation, we have reused ideas. Instead of cultural icons, we are seeing influencers. Instead of memorable moments, we are left with collections that blur together. NYFW may still hold weight as a name, but the substance behind it is lacking.
As someone who once dreamed of attending NYFW for both the looks and the chance to see my favorite celebrities, it’s disappointing to realize that I would have to travel overseas to get that experience. But maybe that’s not a bad thing. Other fashion weeks get the opportunity to shine, and it reminds us that unforgettable style isn’t limited to location.
Fashion goes in cycles, and maybe this slow season is just a pause before New York finds its spark again. The next season could be the one that surprises us.
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