New York Fashion Week has come to a close, marking the start of what is sure to be a promising fashion month.

While the rise in Omicron cases meant headliners like Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford were notably absent from the physical schedule, the week still saw sublime new designs from the likes of Coach, Michael Kors, Tory Burch and Proenza Schouler.

From shows that served as a love letter to the city of New York, to a celebration of stepping outside once again as lockdowns ease, here’s a look at all the Fall 2022 shows that have us hyped for a return to IRL fashion shows.

Coach

Presenting Coach’s Fall 2022 show on Valentine’s Day, Stuart Vevers made sure to play up the romance factor with a sentimental set that recreates “a town somewhere in America”, where it is perpetually golden hour and anything can happen. The show began with models on the stage in a series of suburban activities like walking a dog, coming home with groceries, and riding bikes. The comforting scenes gave way to a series of grungy, yesteryear-themed runway looks that incorporated loose graphic tees, peter-pan collared and crochet dresses. Shearling and graffiti leather outerwear featured prominently in the line up of nostalgically edgy ensembles, most of which were topped off with accessories like black leather chokers and combat boots.

Tory Burch

Celebrating bold risk-taking and creativity in dressing, Tory Burch’s Fall/Winter 2022 show was held at night time on the 25th floor of Hudson Commons in midtown Manhattan, with the bright New Yorker Hotel sign and the glittering city lights as its backdrop. Self-expression and individuality were key in this collection, which was characterised by a variety of sportswear, workwear, outerwear and loungewear, often mixed together in one ensemble as an ode to the freedom of breaking rules and rejecting conformity. Tapered pants paired with neon zip-up track jackets and vintage looking sweaters, embroidered bustiers accompanied baggy trousers, and a set of bright geometric patterned jersey dresses closed out the show on a lively, sophisticated note.

Michael Kors

The glamour and joy of stepping out for a New York evening was the prevailing theme of the Michael Kors’ Fall/Winter 2022 runway show, which took place at Manhattan’s iconic music venue Terminal 5. Celebrating the return of nights out on the town, the evening time show featured a performance by Grammy-winning artist Miguel as models paraded down the runway in this season’s collection. Monochrome ensembles in neutral tones made up the line’s colour palette, punctuated with energising jolts of bright orange, yellow and fuchsia. It was the outerwear, however, that stole the show with standout pieces such as alluring clutch coats, fluffy faux fur, shimmering trench coats and dramatic hoods. 

Proenza Schouler

For the Proenza Schouler Fall Winter 2022 collection, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez sought to explore the question, “Where will we go next?”, a thought many are no doubt contemplating in the wake of the past two years. The runway show, held at The Brant Foundation art centre, proposed an answer with a showcase of tailored garments that gently hugged and emphasised the body. To the strains of violins performing an original composition by Eartheater, models wore loose-fitted suits, circular bias-cut skirts, animal print dresses and strapless peplum tops that billow outwards. Waists were accentuated with additional fabric firmly wrapped across the midriff, while jackets and coats were buttoned off to the side, snugly enveloping the torso.