Features

New York Bridal Week Fall 2027 Preview

October 9, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of lajeunemarie.com

Can you believe it, New York Bridal Week (NYBW)is only a few days away? It seems like New York Fashion Week (NYFW) just completed its spring 2027 season run–actually, NYFW was only a month ago.

That said, the parade of beautiful, and sometimes unusual, bridal gowns will soon descend upon New York City. And fashion industry professional will witness the breath, depth, and range of what modern bridal consumers want to be enticed by and caused to be enchanted by. From traditional bridal silhouettes to bridal gowns that project now and next, bridal industry professionals will get to experience up close and personal all the craft and creativity the current US bridal market.

Unlike NYFW, there is lot less emphasis of fashion social media moments and the intrusion of fashion influencers that can make a serious fashion event chaotic and a cheapened experience. NYBW has maintained its integrity and truly respects the bridal industry professionals which serves the core of its audience.

Like NYFW there is still a lot of running around to different bridal venues. However, the reception is always welcoming and respectful.

Image courtesy of Sareh Nouri

This season—which is fall 2027, remember the bridal market always presents a year in advance—there are several new additions to the bridal calendar. Some of the new additions include, but is not limited to, Vionnette, Bi Pharm, Valentini, the Magnificent Seven (bridal brands from Barcelona), Flourenchia Bridal, Atelier Arielle, Cortana Bridal, and the return of Hayley Paige, among several others.

Fashion Reverie will be front and centers bringing our viewers not only bridal brands that are site favorites—Mark Ingram, Verdin, Nadia Manjarrez, Nicole +Felicia, Idan Cohen, and others, as well as some of the bridal brands making their debut at NYFW. There will be a lot of coverage, so stay tuned. This will be exciting!!

—William S. Gooch

Dippity Don’t Says: October 2026

September 24, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

To everyone who survived New York Fashion Week (NYFW), congratulations. You’ve made it to the other side, and lucky for you, Fashion Reverie has some delicious tea. With Fashion Month here, there’s so much happening, from designer drama and the changing of the guard to behind-the-scenes soap opera moments. This Fashion Month is one for the books. Sit back, try to relax despite Fashion Month still going on, and prepare your teacups.

Image courtesy of amp3pr.com

This top fashion PR firm is reportedly looking for a buyer. That would explain why several top executives recently left the company. While it’s common for fashion publicists to jump from job to job, it’s unusual that several very senior people at this company would all leave in the same year.

It’s also surprising that this company is looking to sell after bringing on two additional vice presidents this year. The question is: who will be the buyer? There’s at least one major fashion PR firm that wouldn’t mind acquiring this company and its roster of fashion and beauty brands.

Image courtesy of vogue.com

Off-White is going downhill. The brand’s sales have been steadily declining, and creative director Ib Kamara was recently ousted. Now, there’s a battle over whether to let the brand continue or lay it to rest. The company is owned by Bluestar Alliance, which has a 60% stake, and, which has a 40% stake.

While Bluestar thinks the brand is worth saving, is there really anyone who can replace the brand’s late founder, Virgil Abloh? We will see how much longer Off-White lasts.

The creative director of this major luxury house is reportedly on his way out after his couture collections have struggled to sell. The parent company of this luxury brand was hoping this designer could restore some of the old-school glamour of the brand, but sadly, the sales figures weren’t looking great. Customers had grown used to the previous designer’s much more youthful aesthetic and simply weren’t buying what this new creative director was selling.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

With Steven Kolb out as CFDA president following a physical altercation in which he restrained a PETA protester, the CFDA is now looking for a new head honcho. Now that Kolb is out, his closet skeletons are coming to light.

Former female employees have detailed the verbal abuse they suffered while working at the CFDA under Kolb. According to a 2019 survey, the majority of female employees said that Kolb had addressed them unprofessionally. A prominent fashion editor also discussed one of his past interactions with Kolb, in which he declared that the CFDA Awards were only for rich people and celebrities and that he didn’t want anyone of another ilk there. Sounds like it was beyond time for Kolb to go.

Mr. Dippity Don’t

Lil’ Kim Makes her Daughter’s NYFW Runway Appearance Just in Time

September 23, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of aol.com

Every mother’s dream is to see their child being applauded on a stage. And if that mother is rapper Lil’ Kim—a celebrity who used to adulation and fame—then having your daughter recognized and applauded seems par for the course.

That said, Lil’ Kim almost missed her daughter runway appearance at the Runway on Broadway fashion show, presented by Macy’s in partnership with Rookie Kids in Herald Square. Scheduled to appear on the red carpet of the Runway on Broadway, Lil’ Kim missed that part of the event due a flight delay from Paris—Lil’ Kim halted her European tour to attend her daughter’s runway debut.

Images courtesy of VERY New York

Though Lil’ Kim missed the red carpet, security whisked into the runway portion of the event just in time to see her daughter, Royal Reign’s runway appearance. Lil’ Kim’s transatlantic dash was not about getting media attention or making a fashion statement, it was solely about supporting her daughter and being a good parent.

Aside from the heavy makeup, transformations, and suggestive music lyrics, Lil’ Kim is so much more than what is projected and perceived. (I’ve met her in person, and she was genuinely kind and gracious.) She is a mom and very involved in Royal Reign’s upbringing.

Image courtesy of hellobeautiful.com

Royal Reign walked the runway in two outfits. The purple/lavender Jordan Jumpman dress with classic Panda Dunks was appropriate for her age (12) and a great back-to-school look. The Jordan Jumpman jogging suit with sporty overskirt and top was fashion forward and a lot of fun.

—William S. Gooch

Fashion Breaking News: CFDA CEO Battles PETA at COS Spring 2027 Show

September 14, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of yahoonews.com

Does one good intention cover a multitude of sins? In Steven Kolb’s case, president and chief executive officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, apparently not!!

On Sunday afternoon, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a protest at the COS spring 2027 runway show. COS, which used sheepskin and sheep’s wool in their spring 2027 collection, was called out by protestors for the use of these sheep byproducts. Yelling against the use of sheep byproducts and with signs stating “Sheep Beaten and Bloodied for Wool. Don’t Buy It,” the protest escalated as Steven Kolb attempted to quell the protest, ending with a scuffle.

As Kolb attempted to cover the mouths of a couple of protesters, pulling one protestor to the floor, and attempting to yank the protest sign out of her hand, Kolb had to be escorted out of the event, as security escorted other PETA protestors out. Kolb commented as reported in yahoonews.com, “I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn’t my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation.”

In response to the assault, PETA wrote, “Today’s actions show how top people in fashion use violence to silence people who expose how sheep are beaten, bloodied, and violently killed for scarves and sweaters,” PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said in the release, as reported in fashionista.com … “Kolb violently grabbed one protester, held her to the floor, wrapped a leg around her, and covered her mouth and nose with his hands as she shouted, ‘Sheep bloodied and beaten for wool!’ Kolb also shoved and grabbed a second PETA member who was filming the catwalk takeover and covered his face with his hand.”

Image courtesy of cnn.com

In recent months PETA has reached out to H&M Group, the parent company of COS, asking them to ban wool from their garments due to an investigation that showed workers kicking, beating, and dragging terrified sheep and leaving them bleeding at a South African wool farm. H&M Group buys wool from this South African supply chain.

This recent incident has caused many New York City fashion industry professionals and fashion publications to call for the resignation of Steven Kolb. Kolb has been at the center and forefront of many fashion controversies that many fashion insiders believe have diminished the relevancy and vibrancy of New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

William S. Gooch

New York Fashion Week Spring 2027 Sketches

September 8, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is almost here, and designers are already teasing what some of their new collections will look like ahead of the spring 2027 runway shows. While what we see on the runway is the final product, there’s a real journey from paper to production before the first sample is unveiled. Every season, Fashion Reverie offers a glimpse of what’s to come from designers’ latest collections. Here are a few sketches we had the privilege of previewing.

Images courtesy of People’s Revolution

KH Editions

KH Edition is a streetwear label founded by designers Naphat Tansuwan and Panisara Maneerat. The duo draws inspiration from art, graphic design, energy, and Thai culture. KH stands for “Kick it to the Highway.” For this season’s collection, the brand says it is driven by the grit of the boundless highway and the soul of Thai culture. The collection features a curated selection of standout pieces with bold, ironic looks made from innovative rPET fabric. rPET stands for Recycled Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is a sustainable, eco-friendly textile made entirely from recycled plastic waste.

Image courtesy of AKNVAS

AKNVAS

AKNVAS, the emerging designer womenswear brand founded by Danish designer Christian Juul Nielsen, is returning to New York Fashion Week. The designer has described his upcoming collection as “Swans before innocence,” although it’s unclear whether it’s a reference to actual swans or Truman Capote’s “Swans,” known as his entourage of New York society women, like Baby Paley and C.Z. Guest. As evidenced by the teaser sketch, AKNVAS still loves a dramatic tutu-style skirt.

Image courtesy of COS

COS

COS, the higher-end label from its parent company H&M, is also returning to New York Fashion Week. The brand is working to elevate its luxury positioning. The brand looks poised to go beyond its traditional minimalist aesthetic and incorporate more texture and details into its collection this season. Could this be a sign that quiet luxury is slowly coming to an end?

Image courtesy of Showroom Seven

Mankind

Laraine Yu is a former digital fashion editor at Vogue China. After leaving the world of media behind, she started her own fashion brand committed to sustainability. Yu is a true innovator because, for her New York Fashion Week debut, she is creating clothing that stays monochrome until the stage lights hit it. “Sunlight is the primary source of energy for the survival and evolution of most living organisms,” Yu said. As a result, there is also a lot of floral inspiration in the collection, done as sculptural accents, namely focusing on five flowers: trumpet vine, clematis, vine peony, daylily, and sunflower.

Image courtesy of Showroom Seven

Valerian Hughes

Fashion designer Valerian Hughes has the distinction of being one of Paris’ Black-owned fashion houses. The brand merges Parisian tailoring with a contemporary, bold perspective. This September, the house debuts its first ready-to-wear collection, marking a significant evolution as it brings its unique cultural narrative to America’s fashion capital, New York City. The new collection from Valerian Hughes explores identity, memory, and transformation through a striking color palette and fuses inspiration from Caribbean and African cultures.

Image courtesy of Amir Taghi

Amir Taghi

Living memories inspired Amir Taghi’s spring 2027 collection. While that might sound quite broad, Taghi often draws inspiration from his Iranian heritage and American upbringing. Tailoring will continue as part of the brand’s aesthetic. With the memory’s aspect, he may draw inspiration from what the women around him wore when he was growing up. In that case, that Middle East-meets-West inspiration will come to fruition.

Image courtesy of Derek Lam

Derek Lam

Robert Rodriguez, now creative director of Derek Lam, said the upcoming collection is rooted in the rhythm of New York City. Architectural inspiration and plenty of neutral colors are expected. It’s also no secret that New Yorkers love their head-to-toe black outfits. Sketches show he’s playing with necklines and peplum details, so at least the neutrals won’t be boring.

Image courtesy of Dennis Basso

Dennis Basso

With the shift toward New York Fashion Week going fur-free, Dennis Basso, well-known for his fine furs, has shifted his efforts more toward his chic eveningwear. The designer has been elevating his eveningwear offerings to fit the socialite and Hollywood crowd he’s well known for dressing. He’s still retained his longstanding popularity among New York’s ladies who lunch crowd of philanthropists and socialites. Basso is entering his next era.

Kristopher Fraser

New York Fashion Spring Week 2027 Preview

September 7, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of lofficiel.com

Can you believe it? It’s almost that time again. You know what time I am speaking of. That time of clacking heels, fashionistas, and good and very bad fashion, that’s right, it’s New York Fashion Week (NYFW) time!!

From September 10 to September 15, New York City will host NYFW. And many wagging tongues feel that NYFW’s time has come and gone, there are many industry professionals that are still excited about the new collections of established designers/brands and emerging designers/brands.

NYFW still does not have a singular, permanent venue which makes attending many of the of the shows a challenge, yet Fashion Reverie is primed and ready to present to our viewers all of the glitz and glam of this esteemed event. So, stay tuned!!

Supermodel Heidi Klum famously said, “one day you are in, and the next day you are out.” And what appears to be fading at NYFW and other global fashion weeks, in the presence and proliferation of fashion influencers. The fashion industry is not making a loud announcement or disturbing a press release about the demise of fashion influencers. Instead, fashion designers/brands are shifting their resources and attention to more reliable forms of growth.

Image courtesy of arnnewcentre.com

As social media and the costs of fashion influencers have become wildly expensive without the expected return on investment, brands/fashion designers moving back to expert fashion industry professionals—stylists, editors, and brand strategists—that bring a proven set of skills. This puts Fashion Reverie in expert company. And back at the center of the action.

Expect incredible coverage of brands you all know and love as well as some emerging designers/brands that consumers should pay attention to. Happy New York Fashion Week!!

—William S. Gooch

Mr. Dippity Don’t Says: September 2026

August 24, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Image courtesy of unm.edu

Ring the triangle, set the table, bring out the fine china, and heat the tea kettle … Mr. Dippity Don’t Says is back! Yes, children, after a long hiatus, Fashion Reverie’s Dippity Don’t column is back, and like Norma Desmond, it’s as if we never said goodbye. Dippity Don’t Says has returned just ahead of New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and Fashion Month, and there is plenty of hot tea to pour. The industry has been abuzz in my absence, but Fashion Reverie is here to tell you all you need to hear and then some.

Image courtesy of Parispremeneurs.com

Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville in Paris is allegedly hemorrhaging money, as over 100 of their brands have left, many because they weren’t paid for orders. The struggling department store chain is so desperate that they brought Shein into their store because they know it’s an easy sell.

Many blame the executives at the top for poor management, which could have been avoided. Others say the decline in tourists from places like Russia has also hurt the store’s bottom line. Luxury retail is supposedly one of the few sectors of fashion making money, so Bazar de l’Hôtel de Ville needs to get its act together.

Image courtesy of dscene.com

The Met has announced that John Galliano will lead the next theme for the 2027 Costume Institute exhibit. While Galliano’s acclaimed years at Dior and Margiela have earned him quite the fanbase, many have not forgotten why he was fired from Dior in the first place after going on an antisemitic rant in 2011.

Now, publicist Lauren London is alleging she witnessed another antisemitic rant by John Galliano in 2019, where he accosted her friend for speaking Hebrew in public. Galliano allegedly screamed “Merry Christmas” over and over to London’s friend while she was on the phone, in the middle of July, and unapologetically told London’s friend he had a problem with her speaking Hebrew. Unlike the 2011 incident, where Galliano was intoxicated, London says he appeared completely sober.

Image courtesy of gq.com

Is he or isn’t he? Deuxmoi posted a tip that Dior creative director Jonathan Anderson was collaborating with Zara, but Anderson and his J.W. Anderson brand quickly shut down the rumors. Although Anderson and his team denied any such collaboration, Anderson still has a very successful collaboration with Zara competitor Uniqlo. However, Anderson’s contract with Uniqlo is not on a fixed-term basis, so it could end at any time.

Anderson is one of the hottest designers in the game right now, so any fast-fashion brand would kill to collaborate with him. Uniqlo doesn’t look like they’ll let him go anytime soon. The Uniqlo and J.W. Anderson collaboration is still considered a best seller.

Image courtesy of maekan.com

J.Crew may have had a successful rebound and is now holding steady in terms of sales, but the company is now engaging in cost-cutting measures as they work to increase profit. Brendon Babenzien, the men’s creative director, exited the company in February. No one was named to replace him, which is also saving J. Crew money. Let’s see if they start slashing employees or store count next. Allegedly, some corporate jobs could be on the chopping block.

—Mr. Dippity Don’t

Fashion Collaborations for Fall 2026

August 22, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

Images courtesy of fashionhistory.fit.edu

Collaborations have long had a place in fashion, as early as 1937, when couture designer, Elsa Schiaparelli teamed up with the surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, resulting in the iconic Lobster Dress, and the shoe hat. Fast forward to the early 2000’s, and we were smack in the middle of the heyday of splashy designer collabs: Karl Lagerfeld x H&M, Roberto Cavalli x H&M and Isaac Mizrahi for Target and so many more.

Although the buzz and fanfare over these “high-low” partnerships have subsided, 2026 has produced some notable partnerships.

Below, Fashion Reverie’s edit of the best collaborations of 2026.

Images courtesy of vogue.com

GAP x Victoria Beckham

This collaboration melds the clean lined sportswear basic of GAP with the similarly tailored lines Victoria Beckham’s namesake is known for. Beckham brings just enough fashion edge to pique a GAP customer but not so much that they would view it as “too fashion-y and not for my daily life”. There is a great mini trench for $138 that would be a cornerstone of anyone’s daily wardrobe. Happily, this 38-piece collection is just the beginning. The partnership is multi-season. For fall 206, we’re hoping Beckham will reinterpret the classic GAP peacoat and carcoat. If so, put Fashion Reverie on the list!

Images courtesy of uniqlo.com and hypebeast.com

Cecile Bahnsen x UNIQLO

Many refer to UNIQLO as “the Japanese GAP.” The two companies both make getting dressed easy, and offer uncomplicated pieces such as tees, jeans, sweaters, and outerwear. Like the GAP, UNIQLO’s clothing can be styled with an haute designer piece, as actor Sharon Stone famously proved, when she wore a black GAP turtleneck with a Vera Wang ballgown skirt to the 1996 Academy Awards.

Danish designer, Cecile Bahnsen, launched her eponymous label in 2015 and is celebrated for her oversize babydoll dresses, puffy sleeves and empire waist silhouette. She describes her aesthetic as “a blend of high-craft textile details with Scandinavian minimalism.”

For her spring 2026 UNIQLO “Shades of Poetry” collection, the flower, a motif in her own collection, appears repeatedly on the tees as do signature feminine shirring details. The pieces are squarely in line with UNIQLO pricing and a great way to mix and match Bahnsen’s romantic vibe with your existing basic tees and sneakers. As many items are sold out, we’re keeping our fingers crossed for another collection in spring 2027.

Images courtesy of vogue.com/Jorge Perez

Willya Chavarria x Zara

The “Vatismo” collection is a large-scale collaboration of nearly 100 pieces for men and women, inspired by 1990’s Chicano culture. There are oversized tailored workwear, elevated basics, jewelry, and accessories rendered in Chavarria’s luxury streetwear aesthetic. Standouts are a navy shoulder pad viscose yarn bomber jacket and an elevated version in black leather for $529. Accessories include a metal red rose brooch that adds a pop to a sexy wrinkled black midi dress that’s bound to be a day-to-evening wardrobe staple. While the collection is on the high-end of Zara pricing, timeless pieces like this with Chavarria’s unique spin make them keepers for many seasons to come.

Images courtesy of adidas.com

Adidas Originals x BAPE

BAPE, a Tokyo streetwear brand, has come a long way from 1992 when the designer, Nigo, founded it in 1993. BAPE got on fashionistas’ radar in the 2000’s when Pharell Williams and Kanye West helped popularize it, wearing BAPE while performing and at other public outings. Official fashion collaborations followed, and Adidas x BAPE has proved so successful that they continue to team up year after year.

Their 2026 installment is the Adidas Originals and BAPE Football Collective, in honor of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The collection pulls pieces inspired by iconic sporting moments co-created into “BAPE camo” prints and fun graphics like “Baby Milo” on sneakers, bags, and hoodies with that genderless quirky BAPE twist.

Images courtesy of drmartens.com and hypebeast.com

Dr. Martens x Heaven by Marc Jacobs

Doc Martens have long been fashionable in a perverse anti-fashion way, starting when Vogue dedicated the “Grunge and Glory” spread to Marc Jacobs’ iconic “Grunge Collection” for Perry Ellis. The December 1992 issue showcases supermodels Naomi Campbell and Kristen McNemany wearing Jacobs’ controversial clothes and Doc Martens combat boots. Decades later, Jacobs teamed up with Doc Martens to create Dr. Martens x Heaven by Marc Jacobs, that hails back to that 1992 fashion moment and Jacobs’ roots in Manhattan’s West Village.

The boot collab is a reinterpretation of Jacobs’ popular “Kiki boot” that debuted at his February 2016 runway show. The original has a towering 6” heel and 3” platform that was a smash hit with celebrities Kendall Jenner, Beyonce, and Paris Hilton. Dr. Martens’ Sr. Category Manager, Michael Ford, described the reinterpreted Kiki to FN as follows. “We took inspiration from the Iconic Marc Jacobs Kiki Boot and fused it with Dr. Martens DNA—our Corran outsole, creating something truly unique with the attitude of both brands.” The boot has laddered silver buckles, custom lock-and-key charms and is available in black, lavender and black croc-embossed aniline leather.

—Vivian Kelly

Fashion Brands/Designers to Look Out for at NYFW spring 2027

August 10, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a month away, and the Fashion Calendar, detailing who is showing when, was unveiled in July. The annual fashion affair, featuring countless runway shows and parties, is preparing for stylists, editors, buyers, and celebrities to descend on the city for what many consider the January of fashion. NYFW kicks off Fashion Month, which also includes London, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks.

With the debut of the NYFW schedule, there are some standout designers on this year’s roster. Although NYFW has marquee designers drawing large celebrity crowds and press attention, such as Michael Kors, Thom Browne, and Tommy Hilfiger, NYFW is a major platform for emerging designers. Designers such as Joseph Altuzarra, Alexander Wang, and Telfar Clemens of their respective namesake labels all got their start showing at NYFW before they evolved into major designers in the industry. Fashion Reverie takes a closer look at the emerging designers to keep an eye on this spring 2027 season.

Images courtesy of Colin Savercool

Zoe Gustava Anna Whalen

Zoe Gustava Anna Whalen is reopening her studio and shop this month after a successful fall 2026 show at NYFW. Pre-industrial era pregnancy corsets, sanitary belts, and maternity wear inspired her last collection. One of the most interesting things about Whalen’s brand is that each piece is sewn and draped by hand, harkening back to the era of making clothes yourself. Whalen started her brand in 2022 and has since built a small following of those who love her dead stock textile, sculptural creations.

Images courtesy of ouispeakfashion.com

Lii

Lii is a New York-based label founded by Chongqing-born fashion designer Zane Li in 2023. Li was among the 2025 finalists for the Vogue/CFDA fashion fund, which provides mentorship and grants to emerging designers. His participation in the program helped elevate his profile in the fashion industry. He’s also secured retailer partners, like e-tailer Ssense and multi-brand store Forty Five Ten. The brand is known for its love of primary colors and structural shapes, earning it a growing audience. As one of the Vogue/CFDA Fashion FUND finalists, many are awaiting to see what the future of American fashion holds next with Lii.

Image courtesy of vogue.com

Zaldy

Although far from an emerging designer, Zaldy, who is famous as the designer of many of legendary drag queen RuPaul’s costumes for his reality competition “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” is still new to the NYFW calendar. Last season, Zaldy held his first-ever fashion show, which was one of the most talked-about shows during NYFW. His show brought equal parts sex, camp, and style, and a unique flavor of something the Fashion Calendar desperately needed. Although the world of runway collections is new to him, let’s see what Zaldy cooks up next.

Images courtesy of theimpression.com and wearehordes.com

Diotima

While Diotima has been a staple on the NYFW calendar for several seasons now, now that brand founder Rachel Scott is also creative director of Proenza Schouler, it’s helped elevate her brand’s profile. Scott is still a relatively young designer, but the spotlight has been on her as people have long thought she would be in the running to become creative director of a bigger brand eventually, on top of still running her namesake label.

Now that she’s wearing two hats, she’s the talk of the town. As one of the few Black women creative directors with such a major spotlight, she’s also one of the most consistently anticipated and talked about shows during NYFW.

Images courtesy of Advisry

Advisry

Another Black-owned brand making waves is, founded by Keith Herron. Advisry is primarily a menswear label, known for combining California ease with classic sartorial forms. Herron famously dressed New York City Council Member Chi Osse in a custom look for the 2024 Met Gala, where the theme was fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.

Herron has also been expanding on the brand’s women’s offerings with his fall 2026 collection “Return of the Space Cowboy.” Now, fashion watchers are excited to see if he’ll build upon his womenswear for the coming season.

Images courtesy of Sabyasachi

Sabyasachi

Sabyasachi is an ornate South Asian brand known for its sarees, bridalwear, and jewelry. The brand is 25 years old, so they are far from a newcomer, but they have focused on their U.S. expansion over the past several years. New York Fashion Week is still one of the most talked-about events on the fashion calendar, even though there is the argument that it no longer has the gravitas it once did. Still, in the era of social media and impressions, a runway show is a great way to get a brand name out there. With only so many international designers on the calendar, Sabyasachi is also a standout among many American-based designers.

Images courtesy of papercitymagazine.com and hampdenclothing.com, respectively

Amir Taghi

Amir Taghi is a women’s luxury ready-to-wear label that made its NYFW debut in September 2025. His debut runway show was very intimate, and the collection paid homage to his Iranian heritage while combining Texas flair. Texas is one of the biggest markets for luxury fashion, so in his second year at NYFW, fans of the brand are wondering whether Taghi will continue to cater to the Texas market or shift his collection’s aesthetic to target a new market. Everyone will see in September.

Bad Binch Tong Tong

After Bad Binch Tong Tong’s Terrance Zhou won the 2026 CFDA | Genesis House AAPI Design + Innovation Grant, providing financial support to young Asian American and Pacific Islander designers, people have wondered what the designer will do next. Zhou’s brand has become synonymous with avant-garde couture-level pieces and is seen as conceptual art. He once presented a show at St. Bartholomew’s church that completely transformed the venue into an otherworldly communion. Whatever Zhou does for NYFW, he certainly won’t disappoint.

— Kristopher Fraser

Is “Project Runway” Still Relevant?

July 8, 2026 by admin Leave a Comment

PROJECT RUNWAY – Freeform’s “Project Runway” stars Heidi Klum, Christian Siriano, Nina García, Law Roach, and Tyra Banks. (Disney/Rankin)

On December 1, 2004, “Project Runway” premiered on Bravo, its original home channel. In 2004 the show was hosted by supermodel Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn, who served as chair of Parsons School of Design from 2000 to 2007. The show was part of an era of peak fashion reality TV, which also included shows like “America’s Next Top Model,” “Stylista,” “Make Me a Supermodel,” and, later, MTV’s “The Hills.”

“Project Runway,” which is still on the air today, has always followed the same premise. A group of designers competes for prize money and mentorship, and the designers who make it to the final episode get to show their collections in an exclusive runway show. The TV exposure was also meant to help designers’ careers, whether they won or not, as their work would now be seen by millions.

Image courtesy of entertainmentnow.com

The original lineup of judges included Klum, along with Nina Garcia, who was the fashion director of Elle when “Project Runway” began and is now its editor-in-chief, and fashion designer Michael Kors, of his eponymous label and one of the most recognizable names in American fashion. The show was meant to find the next “It” designer in American fashion. Of all the contestants to come through “Project Runway,” arguably its most distinguished alumnus is Christian Siriano.

The designer won season four of “Project Runway” and is now one of the most coveted red-carpet designers in the business. Over the course of his career, there have been award shows where up to nine stars have worn his designs for momentous occasions, from the Golden Globes to the Emmys. Siriano took over Tim Gunn’s adviser role on “Project Runway” in 2018 and is now mentoring the potential next generation of young design talent.

Image courtesy tvinsider.com

Siriano has become a household name in many ways, from people talking about celebrities wearing his designs to his collaborations with brands like Payless, giving entry-level consumers access to his products. Many watched his meteoric rise to stardom from his early days as a contestant on the show and are now both followers of his career and consumers of his designs.

Although some might question the validity of those who find fame in creative industries through reality television competitions, there is no denying the cultural impact “Project Runway” once had. The show not only catapulted Siriano to fashion stardom but was also a ratings juggernaut for Bravo for many seasons. It also helped turn Klum, Gunn, and Garcia, who were all highly regarded in the fashion industry, into household names beyond those who followed fashion news, models, or Elle magazine.

While not every designer who won the show became a household name, for years “Project Runway” helped bring designers to New York Fashion Week, increase their public profiles, and bring the world of fashion into the homes of viewers who tuned in to the show’s home network at the time, which went from Bravo to Lifetime, back to Bravo, and is now on Freeform and the streaming services of Hulu.

Now, with the show’s ratings no longer at the peak they once were, the golden era of fashion reality TV over, and people discovering fashion brands on social media rather than TV or even traditional retail stores, the question is: does “Project Runway” have the relevance it once did?

Veejay Floresca image courtesy of IN magazine

For those of us in the New York fashion scene, “Project Runway” is still a great way to discover emerging designers. Season 21 winner Veejay Floresca is a New York-based designer who recently showed at New York Fashion Week in February. The show helped her earn the attention of editors and fashion stylists, who have been requesting her clothes for editorial shoots and red-carpet clients.

However, when New York looks for the next great emerging fashion designer, rather than looking to reality TV contestants, editors and stylists look at competitors in other categories. Fashion Group International’s Rising Star Award is considered a major steppingstone for many New York-based designers. This year’s winners included Wangda Chen of his namesake brand, Wangda, for menswear and Aiste Hong of her namesake brand for womenswear. Many past FGI nominees and winners go on to become Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) members and show on the official CFDA calendar.

The CFDA is America’s ultimate governing fashion body. When the industry is looking for the next emerging talent, there is also the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. Each year, the annual competition awards the winning designer and two runners-up with financial funding and mentorship to help take their brands and businesses to the next level. The first-ever winners of the award were Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler. Not only did the duo build a successful multimillion-dollar business, but after exiting their brand, they are now the creative directors of Loewe. Loewe is under the umbrella of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the parent company of Louis Vuitton, as well as Dior, Fendi, and Givenchy.

With the return of Heidi Klum in 2025 for season 21, some of “Project Runway’s” cultural relevance has returned. The show generated a lot of buzz when celebrity stylist Law Roach joined the panel. Roach is the stylist to A-lister Zendaya and has dressed many stars throughout his career, including Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, and Megan Thee Stallion. He has also become a media personality himself, having served as a judge on “America’s Next Top Model.”

Image courtesy of freeform.com

For season 22, the judges’ panel will also include Tyra Banks in a recurring role. Banks has been a TV staple since the first season of “America’s Next Top Model” in 2003. Following the Netflix documentary “Reality Check: America’s Next Top Model,” which details some of the more unpleasant realities of her modeling competition show, Banks’ name has been all over the press. She is also in the process of suing Netflix for defamation.

“Project Runway” might be past its prime, but in an era of memes, Instagram Reels highlighting the show’s best moments, and its ability to still attract judges who are part of the social media conversation, the show remains a staple. Who knows if it will ever produce another designer of Siriano’s gravitas, but there are still working designers coming out of the show, including season 10 winner Dmitry Sholokhov, season 18 winner Geoffrey Mac, and season 20 winner Bishme Cromartie.

Image courtesy of entertainmentnow.com

There is always a new generation of talent, or even some older, undiscovered talent, out there for whom “Project Runway” becomes that small break or second chance in their careers. Going into its 22nd season, plenty of us are still tuning in to see who will be crowned the winner of “Project Runway.”

Kristopher Fraser