New York Fashion Week's Top Fashion Trends, from Coquette to Color Blocking

New York Fashion Week is upon us yet again, kicking off another whirlwind month of style inspiration and trends sure to dominate the months to come. And if you can't get enough of recent viral aesthetics like coquette and quiet luxury, you're in luck: Designers this season are offering new twists on these looks and many more, proving that creativity and self-expression are alive and well, set to dominate into 2024. From new takes on balletcore to unapologetically dramatic silhouettes, all the moments we've been seeing at the star-studded shows have us majorly inspired as we plan our next outfits. Ahead, see the top fashion trends from New York Fashion Week so far.

Modern Coquette

All things decadent and hyper-feminine continue to be at the forefront of fashion, with countless brands leaning into various aspects of the coquette aesthetic for spring 2024. Christian Siriano debuted a whole balletcore collection, while Mirror Palais leaned into nostalgic elegance with ruffles, corsets, and over-the-top chokers galore. With coquette being an existing trend, we're seeing designers push the boundaries by introducing tailoring, athleisure, and plenty of bold silhouettes into the mix, proving the amount of possibilities is higher than you can tie your Audrey Hepburn-inspired updo.

Leisurely Decadence

Elevated takes on leisurewear are a major fashion week trend for spring 2024—and we're not talking the luxe loungewear sets that were ubiquitous during the pandemic, but instead highbrow takes on the kind of retro undergarments more commonly seen in period pieces than street style. Certainly stemming from the coquette trend, bloomers and pantaloons had a moment at Dauphinette, corseted silhouettes dominated at Mirror Palais and Dion Lee, and delicate lace and silk fabrics have played key roles in collections including Sandy Liang, Collina Strada, and Alice + Olivia. You probably already throw on a slip dress to go out without hesitation—now is the time to take that energy to the next level and live your best Bridgerton fantasy.

Sheer Genius

The sheer clothing trend is still going strong for spring 2024, and there's a version for everyone this season, whether you prefer bold statements with visible undergarments or a hint of sheer to break up a busy ensemble. We've spotted it in some shape or form almost everywhere so far—Coach, Prabal Gurung, Bronx and Banco, LaQuan Smith, and Eckhaus Latta, to name a few—and we consider it proof that confidently showing off as much or as little skin as you want is not just allowed, but encouraged as we head into a new season.

Color Blocking

The recent style climate has championed vivid shades like neon green and Barbie pink, so it's no wonder why color blocking is now having a major moment on the New York Fashion Week runways. From textural layered tops at Peter Do for Helmut Lang to modern tie-dye at Prabal Gurung to hue-shifting plaid at Ralph Lauren, this season's collections are debuting in a multitude of screaming colors, and it's what all our mod (and Mondrian) dreams are made of. If quiet luxury isn't your vibe, this is a strong sign that dressing bold and bright is more than welcome in the coming months—not that you needed our permission.

Structure Play

To say the least, this season is bringing the drama when it comes to all things size, shape, and tailoring. Coach featured an array of slouchy, oversized blazers that feel best suited for a night out, Prabal Gurung's collection was full of billowing pants and avant-garde waistlines, and Bronx and Banco took an appreciation for nature and culture to new heights with exaggerated corsages and ruffle silhouettes. Every instance makes a case for the allure of the unexpected, showing that a simple change in proportion can transform an otherwise tried-and-true look.

Scarlet Season

If you're obsessed with the tomato girl aesthetic, you're in luck, as vivid scarlet shades are proving to have staying power in the seasons to come. We saw the beginnings of this in February from the likes of Tory Burch, Balmain, and Sandy Liang, and the September shows are full of even more fresh takes. To name a few, we saw sequined pieces at Kim Shui, scarlet leather at Coach and 3.1 Phillip Lim, sheers and knits at Proenza Schouler, and asymmetrical eveningwear at Palomo Spain—plus statement pieces at the likes of Khaite, Brandon Maxwell, and Altuzarra. If one thing's for sure, it's that this hue is still red-hot.

Keynote Leather

Leather never really goes out of style, with its jackets, boots, and handbags being tried-and-true staples for capsule wardrobes and beyond. For spring 2024, though, the focus is shifting away from outerwear and accessories—instead putting the beloved fabric center stage. Coach adapted its signature leather into maxi skirts, dresses, and peekaboo undergarments, while the likes of Jason Wu, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Michael Kors incorporated the fabric into both easygoing and evening-ready pieces. Far from its rugged roots, leather is leaning into its softer side for the upcoming season, which is all the better for creating unexpected looks.

Sequined Daywear

If you thought sequins and other ultra-sparkly pieces were reserved for special events and nights out, think again: It turns out embracing a little extra shimmer in broad daylight may be the perfect way to stand out. The Carolina Herrera show featured a silver sequined midi skirt paired with a tailored black blouse, making a solid case for the ensemble as workwear-appropriate. Meanwhile, Puppets and Puppets integrated sequins into shift dresses and flowing silhouettes that would be a dream to encounter on the street on a random Tuesday, and Wiederhoeft was positively full of sparkle in everything from gloves to mini skirts to drawstring vacation attire (see above). It's basically the show-don't-tell approach to the "Don't let anyone dull your sparkle" quote posts that used to dominate Facebook and Instagram.

Major Metal

Silver has been majorly trending in recent months (certainly in no small part due to the Renaissance Tour), and it looks like for the next season, innovative takes on all sorts of metallics will be taking over. Emerging designer Grace Ling—who already has a popular silver "Butt Bag" minaudière—featured stunning metalwork including chest plates, a chrome rose skirt, and a "glitched corset" in her New York Fashion Week debut, while Brandon Maxwell had a knotted motif across earrings, belts, and bags—plus other details including brushed metallic paneling on denim. Dauphinette's collection included ultra-tiny silver bras and the most mesmerizing sets of gold claw jewelry, Prabal Gurung sent models down the runway each wearing one oversized organic gold earring, and for those who love a more traditional metallic fabric, that was a motif at the likes of LaQuan Smith, Ralph Lauren, and The Blonds. New York just might be in its Schiaparelli era, and we're more than here for it.

Courthouse Wedding

Traditional bridal gowns may be long and formal, but more and more couples are opting for weddings that are anything but—be it a courthouse affair or an intimate party—and the wedding (and otherwise all-white) looks trending at NYFW are bringing the same energy. Bridal (or bridal-appropriate) mini dresses were on display at Christian Siriano, Tory Burch, and Wiederhoeft—the last of which notably had both a new dress on the runway and one from last season in the front row, on none other than Julia Fox. That's not to mention the all-white tailoring inspo at Michael Kors, Khaite, and Alejandra Alonso Rojas, to name just a few. All in all, the rules no longer apply when it comes to weddings or what you wear to them, and we can't wait to see who walks down the aisle in drippy crystals, sharp separates, or a structured mini with the most dramatic veil.