The Who What Wear Podcast

New York Fashion Week F/W ‘26 Recap: High-Neck Styling, Velvet Bum Bags, and Pattern Clashing

Host: Hilary Kerr (intro)
Guests: Eliza Huber (Associate Fashion Director), Tara Gonzalez (Senior Fashion and Social Editor)
Date: February 18, 2026

Episode Overview

In this fast-paced, firsthand recap, Eliza Huber and Tara Gonzalez give listeners an insider’s look at the standout designers, unforgettable runway moments, major accessory obsessions, and emerging trends from New York Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026. Recording between shows, they capture the real-time energy of the week while sharing their own style takeaways, favorite collections, and what trends to expect next fall.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Sandy Liang Show: Quintessential New York Energy

• Vibe Check: Both editors gush about the uplifting, "whimsical and quirky" mood of Sandy Liang’s show, staged in the Upper East Side, a striking contrast to the brand’s usual downtown associations.
  • Quote: "It feels so quintessential New York...her clothing is really whimsical and quirky and fun. And I feel like everyone there is always just so happy to be there, which I think isn’t always the case with...Fashion Week." —Tara, [02:10]
• Notable attendee: Post Malone made a surprise appearance, leaving attendees speculating about his connection to the brand.
  • Quote: "Post Malone was at the Sandy Liang show, which was the most, I think, unexpected...Fashion Week guest." —Tara, [03:50]

Standout Collections & Designers to Watch

• Zankov
  • Lauded for innovative pattern and color mixing, Zankov’s show blends unexpected textures with ultra-wearable styling.
    • Quote: "He’s very good...at the so wrong it’s right kind of look...but the way those looks had so much going and yet still felt very cohesive." —Tara, [04:31]
• Tory Burch
  • Continues to impress with ease, uniqueness, and must-have "sheer, drapey dresses," offering both desirability and practicality.
    • Quote: "She’s just, like, doing what she wants and really following her inspiration wherever it takes her..." —Eliza, [05:15]
• Calvin Klein (by Veronica)
  • A return to classic ‘90s minimalism, updated for today's sleek professional.
    • Quote: "[She’s] going back to the Calvin that we all want to see...classic 90s minimalist, but also...unique and a little different." —Eliza, [06:15]
• Colleen Allen
  • While not a runway show, her presentation format is praised for focusing solely on the clothes—especially the buzzworthy velvet bum bags—that editors can’t stop talking about.
    • Quote: "She just did a presentation...But I’ve seen so many [editors] about Colleen’s collection, especially those, like, bum bags, the velvet bum bags." —Eliza, [07:55]
  • Her approach is described as "vintage sensibility with modern appeal," and her sexier designs stand out even when buttoned-up.

Accessory Moments

• Coach: Baseball mitt and football-shaped bags, plus newspaper-style clutches, wowed for their quirky functionality.
  • Quote: "They basically had bags that looked like baseball mitts and like an old football...so cute!" —Tara, [09:41]
• Eckhaus Latta: Snap bags steal focus, marking a shift away from zippers to "kiss locks and snap closures."
  • Quote: "Zippers are out...We’re kiss locking. We’re snapping." —Eliza, [10:48]
• Sandy Liang: Adorable "lamb or bunny" shoes had everyone gasping, including a four-year-old guest.
  • Quote: "[The shoe] had little ears...the runway, we were all like, women of all ages and little girls." —Tara, [11:32]

Runway Styling Inspiration

• Pattern Clashing: Zankov’s use of argyle, stripes, and sequins encourages listeners to remix what’s already in their closets, giving old pieces new life.
  • Quote: "Seeing the way he was playing with textures and patterns...helped me think about things I already have in my closet..." —Tara, [13:41]
• Texture Play: Fuzzy shoes, boas, and neckpieces move away from utilitarian layering to become focal “accents” even in casual looks.
  • Quote: "A little, like, cherry on top of the outfit...not necessarily for warmth." —Eliza, [15:09]
• Coat & Boots Styling: The "boot as pant, coat as dress" trend, notably seen at Kate, makes coats the centerpiece of the look.
  • Quote: "I just want to invest in a beautiful coat I can wear every single day and feel fabulous in it." —Eliza, [16:05]

Trends & Up-and-Coming Signals

• Increased Sexiness & Cutouts: Designers embrace skin with armpit, hip cutouts, sheer fabrics, bras and straps intentionally showing, moving away from the stricter “quiet luxury” pandemic years.
  • Quote: “We’re starting to just see a little bit more sexiness in collections...we’re kind of moving in a little bit of a different direction.” —Tara, [18:02/19:03]
• Modern Victorian Influence: Embroidery, corseting, and cinched silhouettes show up across collections.
  • Quote: "We continue to...see a lot of Victorian influence, like, with a lot of corset corseting and...cinching silhouettes." —Tara, [24:09]
• High-Neck Styling: Turtlenecks layered with button-downs and jackets in color pops—a look seen at many key shows—is predicted as central for fall.
  • Quote: "I also think turtleneck styling, we’re seeing a lot of...a tiny pop of color underneath a ton of other things." —Eliza, [25:04]
• High Vamp Pumps: This shoe silhouette is called out as “the shoe of the season.”
  • Quote: "I can’t talk about trends without talking about these high vamp pumps...definitely the shoe silhouette...of the season." —Eliza, [24:15/25:03]

Street Style Reports

• Coats as Canvasses: In winter NYFW, outerwear is THE outfit and gets individualized with bold belts, brooches, and personalized layers.
  • Quote: "People accessorizing their coats...belts over their coats...a belt with a fun buckle or color." —Tara, [26:09]
• Heels Return: Amidst the slush, New Yorkers revive high heels—"nothing stops a New York gal from wearing what she wants."
  • Quote: "High heels are coming back...even in the slushy New York...nothing stops a New York gal from wearing what she wants." —Tara, [27:28]

Most Memorable Looks & Moments

• Sandy Liang’s Flowing Finale: The closing white dress with “a sort of train” and long bows; garments in motion that created an "almost trail of smoke."
  • Quote: "The way the model turned and the detail followed them...a little trail of smoke." —Tara, [28:26]
• Coats of the Week: Specific shoutouts to a "brown and black furry" Calvin Klein coat, Kate’s thigh-high boot coat, and Alazar’s leather-and-fur opener.
  • Quote: "There were three coats…Kate with the thigh-high boots…amazing brown and black furry, big voluminous Calvin coat…Alazar, black leather and furry, obsessed." —Eliza, [28:52]
• Lasting Inspiration: Both editors cite these pieces when asked, "What look kept you up at night?"—proof that NYFW’s best moments linger long after the shows.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• The Sandy Liang Show & Post Malone cameo: [02:05]–[04:06]
• Zankov, Tory Burch, Calvin standouts: [04:17]–[06:52]
• Colleen Allen’s velvet bum bags & presentation style: [07:07]–[08:57]
• Accessory moments (Coach, Eckhaus Latta, Sandy Liang shoes): [09:01]–[12:11]
• Runway styling takeaways (pattern clashing, boas, fuzz): [12:56]–[15:39]
• Coat and boot styling trend: [15:47]–[16:43]
• Color combinations & runway inspiration: [16:43]–[17:19]
• Unexpected sexy trends, cutouts, and sheer looks: [17:32]–[20:47]
• Carolina Herrera’s new approachability: [21:19]–[22:21]
• Emerging designers (Colleen Allen focus): [22:23]–[23:31]
• FW26 trends—stripes, texture, Victorian, high-necks, high-vamp pumps: [23:31]–[25:04]
• Street style—coats, brooches, belts, return of the heel: [26:09]–[27:39]
• Editors’ most memorable looks: [28:03]–[29:10]

Notable Quotes

• “He’s very good, in my opinion, at the so wrong it’s right kind of look…” —Tara on Zankov, [04:31]
• “I just want to invest my money in, like, a beautiful coat that I can wear every single day and feel, like, fabulous in it.” —Eliza, [16:05]
• “We’re kiss locking. We’re snapping. We’re not zipping.” —Eliza & Tara (accessories), [10:51]
• “Nothing stops a New York gal from wearing what she wants to wear. No snow pile will stop her.” —Eliza & Tara, [27:28]
• “Clothing is supposed to be things that you wear to...live your life in. So why are you gonna hide the signs of that life that you’ve lived, you know?” —Tara, [20:47]

Style & Tone

Throughout, Eliza and Tara keep the tone candid, energetic, and full of in-the-moment style wisdom—peppered with humor, pop culture references, and genuine friendship. They combine trend analysis with IRL styling tips, making this recap equally valuable for fashion insiders and casual listeners planning their next shopping spree.