New York Fashion Week concluded February 15, 2026, with a clear signal: denim is central to the coming fall season. Beyond the resurgence of Y2K-inspired styles, the week also showcased shifts in creative leadership and emerging beauty trends.
Rachel Scott’s debut as creative director of Proenza Schouler was a key moment, drawing significant anticipation. The Jamaican-born designer ushered in a new chapter for the label, with a indicate that featured fingertips and toes painted in a pale cerulean, an “escapist shade” according to Vogue.
Nicola Brognano also made a splash in his first collection as creative director of 7 For All Mankind. Brognano, formerly of Blumarine, appointed Chloë Sevigny as the brand’s ambassador and presented a collection that revisited the aesthetic of the mid-2000s, embracing Y2K influences. The runway styling evoked a downtown vibe, specifically referencing the clientele of Smith’s Sunday night at Sway, a New York hotspot known for sightings of the Olsen twins.
The broader denim landscape is evolving, with a move towards styles that feel “sophisticated but lived in,” as described by Marianne Gallagher McDonald, creative director for Citizens of Humanity. Karen Phelps, creative director of Agolde, noted a shift away from “exaggerated silhouettes” towards “straighter legs and more refined proportions.” The “cigarette” or “stovepipe” jean is making a comeback, drawing inspiration from Parisian street style and 1990s fashion.
Beauty trends at New York Fashion Week also reflected a sense of nostalgia, and power. Marc Jacobs kicked off the week with pastel blue lids, a theme echoed at Proenza Schouler. A “gothy, witchy, femme fatale” aesthetic emerged on several runways, with designers like Hillary Taymour of Collina Strada referencing a “soul-sucking mood” in her collection, “The World Is a Vampire.” Nicholas Aburn, the new creative director of Area, linked glamour to “magic” and a woman’s power to control her image.
Hair trends emphasized movement and texture. Hairstylists created styles ranging from wispy looks at 7 For All Mankind to waist-length waves at Ulla Johnson. At Eckhaus Latta, models’ hair was washed with Tresemmé Amplified Volume shampoo, without conditioner, to achieve a “superclean” and “airy” texture. Updos also made a strong return, with mini bouffants at Anna Sui and “bedroom twists” at Diotima, reflecting a theme of eroticism championed by Rachel Scott.
The color blue emerged as a significant trend, appearing on lids at Marc Jacobs and as a hazy cerulean polish at Proenza Schouler. Makeup artists experimented with sheer blue shadows, encouraging a “careless” application that could be smudged on with bare fingers.
