Our journey through global fashion weeks has begun with Sping/Summer 2025 ready-to-wear runways kicking off in New York, with more to come across Paris, Milan and London.
And, NYF25 is off to a strong start with Ralph Lauren taking over the Hamptons and sending a bronzed Christy Turlington in wispy cotton tops strolling down the runway) and Alaïa, Proenza and Anoushka, giving us a glimpse of the trends we’ll wearing up in summer. While SS25 is a forecast for Europe, it’s perfectly timed for Australia as we dip into summer. We’re enchanted by the slouchy, beachy looks at Ralph Lauren and the floaty grunge on the grass we glimpsed at Collina Strada.
More exciting shows will come in hot from labels like Tommy Hilfiger, Coach and Tory Burch and smaller labels like Diotima, Grace Ling, Luar and Theophilio. And there’s already been a host of celebrity sightings. We spotted Rihanna arriving at Alaïa draped in a sheer gauzy gown, and celebrities like GiGi Hadid, Emily Ratajkowski and It-Girl of the moment Ella Hemhoff (stepdaughter of Kamala Harris) glimpsed at front rows.
Here are the catwalk moments of spring/summer so far.
Ralph Lauren transported models and guests to the Hamptons, a location the designer described as his “home away from home”. Naomi Watts, Jill Biden, Joey King, Jude Law and Laura Dern sat in the front row while Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington took to the catwalk. The collection was all about relaxed beachside luxury with flashes of white and blue, which the designer described as “echoing the pristine sandy beaches, expansive cerulean skies and the depths of the Atlantic Ocean.”
Ella Emhoff popped up in the Proenza Schouler front row alongside Alexa Chung, Reece Witherspoon’s doppelganger daughter Ava Philippe and the ubiquitous front-rower Emily Ratajkowski. Instead, it focused on strong looks. Designer Lazaro Hernandez told WWD, “We’re not minimalists.” The collection featured well-cut, wearable pieces that played with fringing, leather, and splashes of colour.
Collina Strada designer Hillary Taymour held her show in the East Village, where models somersaulted on runways and tossed grass around (even copping Paramore singer Hayley Williams in the face, who took it in her stead). Taymour, who titled her collection “Touch Grass”, told Vogue “, I feel like everyone is a bit overwhelmed this season. There’s a lot of chaotic energy with everything that’s happening on the planet and the election.” The collection was sweet and playful, and for the quirky cool girls amongst us, totally wearable, sending a message that sheer fabrics, floral appliques, and slip dresses will remain a mainstay in the warmer months. If she’d wanted us to get off our phones and connect with natural the TikTok optimised antics of the runway models made that tricky, but, we can see ourselves picnicking in the wilderness in her whimsical pieces.
Alaïa fittingly showed their graphic, sculptural collection at the Guggenheim. There was an A-list guest list, including Liv Tyler, Stephanie Seymour, Greta Lee, and, of course, a late arrival from Rihanna. Meanwhile, Australian model Ella Hanan made her international debut alongside models like Kendall Jenner and Vittoria Ceretti. Allegedly, the museum itself inspired some of the silhouettes debuted by Mulier, which swirled around torsos weightlessly, including sweeping capes worn with skater skirts that opened the show. There was even the sneaky appearance of a thong heel, a trend that’s been predicted for Australian summer.
In the world, according to Tommy Hilfiger, we’ll be wearing ready-for-anything relaxed boyish looks as the weather warms up, and we’re here for it. Whether it’s chequered pants with midriff sweaters or knee-length shorts with baseball caps, the man has us convinced of the merit (and sex appeal) of dressing like a preppy country club boy.
Designer Stuart Vever’s September collection was a youthful celebration of American classics, suitable for a quintessentially American label. There were denim, leather, youthful shift dresses (replete with on-trend bows), and I Love New York graphic t-shirts. The collection was inspired by Coach’s (Re)Loved program, which repairs and reintegrates the brand’s archival pieces. Many of the pieces in the collection were crafted from off-cuts of post-consumer clothing from skater pants made of old chinos to weathered leather jackets. And, whethered oversized or mini, Coach’s signature bags were everywhere.
Designer Ulla Johson worked with elements of artist Lee Krasner’s 1970 Comet painting, which was printed across panels of the SS/25 show and mixed organic textures with soft feminine flourishes.