5 Standout Street Style Looks from New York Fashion Week
Time to shop your closet...
If you can’t tell from my Notes feed, I’m still processing all of the incredible Copenhagen Fashion Week street style images from last month. So much inspiration, so much The RealReal and ThredUp browsing to do. CPHFW has turned my head just a tiny bit back to my maximalist tendencies and I’m looking at the statement pieces in my closet with a fresh eye to style back to my minimalist items.
I’ve caught up to New York Fashion Week (NYFW) and while there were several great standouts, there was an undercurrent of uniformity on runways that didn’t pack the same punch as CPHFW. There are a few themes shaping this:
Minimalism isn’t over just yet, with 90s nostalgia and economic complexity powering more commercially wearable runways.
Microtrend exhaustion, the return to personal style, and the need for joyful elements in our wardrobes are all driving pockets of maximalism.
Clothing was protective and cocooning on and off the runway, reflecting a collective need for safety and stability during times of uncertainty.
Vogue Business published an insightful roundup of fashion insider views on the NYFW AW25 shows. It’s worth the read to see how New York is viewed in the context of the big four fashion weeks.
5 Inspirational Looks from NYFW
These are the five street style looks that made me do a double take, both minimalist and expressive. The great news: if you’re planning to reinterpret these to align with your personal style, you can repurpose what’s already in your closet or find key pieces secondhand.
1. Tonal Gray Outfitting
Take one look at my Indyx and you’ll see that I live for a gray minimalist moment. I was thrilled by the endless variations of gray looks across suiting, knitwear, and accessories, or to borrow a term from Vogue, “groutfits”.
The twist: Up your tonal dressing game with a sweater scarf - a.k.a. literally wearing your sweater as a scarf. This has been around for a few years as a reliably chic way to jazz up a basic outfit, and I take advantage of this styling shortcut almost daily. Off-center knots and brooches refreshed sweater scarf styling for 2025, with extra credit for adding visual interest with texture.
Make it circular: Groufits are the perfect canvas for creative styling and letting your accessories shine. That gray sweater you haven’t worn for a minute? Give it a new life as your sweater scarf. The brooch you haven’t figured out how to wear yet? Use it to make your sweater scarf extra secure.
2. Leather Gloves
Leather gloves have been bubbling up for the last year and emerged in a bigger way for NYFW. Black was a popular color for its versatility, although some showgoers stepped out with color and leopard print. Different lengths abounded from the dramatic opera glove to the shorter driving style.
The twist: Layer your gloves with jewelry or tuck them into your belt or over your bag for a sophisticated take on accessorizing your accessories.
Make it circular: Check out The RealReal and Etsy for preloved gloves in a variety of lengths, colors, and embellishments. These Henri Bendel gloves are on my waitlist and these 3.1 Philip Lim gloves are a maximalist dream.
3. Belt Layering
Taking inspiration from Miu Miu’s SS25 collection, layered belts surfaced across Copenhagen and New York street style, playing into the rising cinched waist shape. Showgoers embraced maximalism by accessory, stacking belts in varying colors, textures, widths, and prints.
The twist: Contrast makes this styling more impactful. Take a cue from the images below and layer belts with different hardware, colors, and sizes for aesthetic appeal.
Make it circular: Like sweater scarves, this one couldn’t be easier to find in your closet. Give your oversized blazer or wrap coat a new life by cinching it with two (or three or four) of your favorite belts.
4. Glossy Outerwear
Glossy finishes were on the upswing at NYFW - call it an antidote to the suede trend that ripped through fashion Substack last fall, or the tides turning to more protective gear. Soft shine offset casual outerwear silhouettes, creating a dressier edge in both short and long lengths.
The twist: Look for glossy coats and jackets in a slightly oversized shape for a modern vibe. Details like statement pockets, ribbing, contrast stitching, and funnel necks give this style even more depth.
Make it circular: Less high maintenance than suede, glossy textiles can typically handle a little extra wear, prolonging your coat’s life. Love this look but don’t have it in your closet? Lean into shopping secondhand and prioritize natural materials like leather over synthetics to reduce microplastic shed and support garment longevity.
5. Brooch Styling
The brooch revival started in 2021 and has gained traction over the past two years. New York Fashion Week attendees upped the ante with constellations of brooches pinned to coats, jackets, and socks. No brooch? No problem. This trend also works with your favorite earrings.
The twist: Look to imaginative placements of clusters of brooches for a maximalist feel. If your aesthetic favors minimalist, a single statement brooch can elevate a basic button down or blazer. Or take it up a notch and style your brooches as shoe charms (a rising trend that I’ll talk about in an upcoming post).
Make it circular: Brooches are made for secondhand shopping, whether at your local thrift store or flea market, or on recommerce platforms that carry both designer pieces and vintage treasures. If you prefer renting over buying, Switch has a curated collection of luxury brooches from Chanel, Gucci, Loewe, and YSL.
That’s it for this week, thanks for reading! If you’re trying any of these trends, are you planning to shop secondhand or style things already in your closet? I’d love to know more in the comments 👀
I’m so glad minimalism isn’t done yet, because it’s what I live for! Also belts are my weakness and I need to try doubling them up!
Tina! I think I wrote the exact same comment last time but this is my very favorite content. THANK YOU for synthesizing what you are seeing and breaking it down into really practical tips. I really enjoy being an early adopter of "trends" and you are giving me the knowledge to do it.