The Who What Wear Podcast

New York Fashion Week S/S 26 Recap

Date: September 17, 2025
Host: Bobby Schuessler (Shopping Director)
Guests: Eliza Huber (Senior Fashion Editor), Tara Gonzalez (Senior Fashion & Social Editor)

Episode Overview

This episode delivers a fast-paced, insider recap of New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2026 (NYFW S/S 26), recorded in real time as the editors emerged from the final shows. Hosts Bobby, Eliza, and Tara share their standout moments, collection highlights, notable trends, celebrity style predictions, and fresh styling hacks—both from the runway and the streets. Authentic, candid, and energetic, the conversation brings listeners into the whirlwind week that shapes what we’ll be wearing next season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Standout Shows and Collections

• Tory Burch

  • Atmosphere: Held in a historic old bank, nostalgic for the Brooklyn flea market days (03:01)
  • Highlights: "Turquoise funnel neck, knee length trench coat... gold wrinkle effect metallic jacket." (03:12, Eliza)
  • Trench Coat Trends: Varied silhouettes—long, cropped, knee length. “You can have 15 trench coats and that’s fine.” (04:26, Bobby)

• Sandy Liang

  • Vibe: Playful, city-inspired, and deeply personal to Tara and other NYC girls (04:32)
  • Details: “Funky little patterns with a cute bunny... white skirt with lace panels like a window... dress covered in little ruffle, like underwear... sandals with oversized buttons.” (04:41, Tara)
  • Quote: “Every single outfit, I feel like I see myself in everything she makes.” (04:37, Tara)

• Rachel Comey

  • Longevity & Consistency: “Ever since I really started buying nice designer things... the Rachel Comey girl and world stays really consistent and true to itself.” (06:11, Eliza)
  • Realness: Clothes “felt so true to her and how women would actually wear it.” (06:34, Eliza)
  • Fun Fact: Models did their own hair and makeup, underscoring authenticity (07:01)
  • Audience: "Cool people from the New York creative community, not just fashion insiders." (07:02, Tara)

• Susan Alexandra x Rachel Antonoff "Dog Show"

  • Fun Factor: Models walked with adoptable dogs & playful accessories.
  • Celebrity presence: Dylan O'Brien, Chris Fleming. “Such a joy, such a delight.” (08:01, Tara)

• Proenza Schouler – Rachel Scott’s First Collection

  • Anticipation & Delivery: “You just never know when you put someone new in what they’re going to do with the brand." (08:34, Eliza)
  • Result: “She put her own twist on it but kept that DNA really strong.” (08:46, Eliza)

• Tyler McGillivary

  • Surprising Pleasure: Show was on a boat themed around “mermaidcore,” but felt fresh and wearable (09:08)
  • Details: “Octopus pattern on a skirt inspired by a vintage photo... she had gone to Tampa to talk to mermaids.” (09:31, Tara)
  • Highlight: "Sarah Paxton from Aquamarine closed the show, which was iconic to me." (10:23, Tara)

Key Trends and Takeaways

• Celebrity Style Forecasts

  • Lola Tung (The Summer I Turned Pretty): “Could totally see her in a funky, finale dress—white with ruffles and a huge padded bow on the back.” (13:16, Tara)
  • Jenna Ortega/Hunter Schafer: “Obsessed with a black and white feathered Prabal look, very swanny.” (13:30, Eliza)
  • Feathers Everywhere: Altuzarra, Brandon Maxwell, Ulla Johnson (13:57, Bobby)

• Major Trends

  • Long Pendant Necklaces with Wallet & Coin Purse Add-Ons: “Coach just did this a couple hours ago.” (14:41, Bobby)
  • Small, Practical Bags: “The biggest trend … wearability and practicality done in a chic, elevated way.” (14:57, Eliza)
  • Aprons Worn Over Pants: “At Eckhaus Latta… apron, beautiful pale yellow color, tied on the side… seeing that a lot.” (15:26, Tara)
  • Hoop Skirts (with a Modern Spin): “Amy [Tibby’s Creative Director] can make it feel so easy.” (16:06, Bobby)
  • Sweater or Shirt Tied Around Waist: Still a prevalent, easy street style hack (16:40, Bobby)
  • Plaid Button-Downs Styled Multiple Ways: “Tied, worn full, tucked in, loose, unbuttoned.” (17:11, Eliza)
  • Flip Flops (with Everything): “Minus 10 degrees in NY and everyone’s gonna be like, little cold toes.” (17:55, all laughing)
  • Immediate Shopability (“See Now, Buy Now”): COS leading with in-season drops, a potential industry game changer (17:02-17:10, Eliza & Bobby)

• Street Style: Chaos & Improvisation

  • “No planning. Chaos. It was a scary one.” (18:16, Eliza/Tara)
  • “Normally I have a Google Drive... This season, none of that.” (18:27, Eliza)
  • “Picked out my outfit yesterday in the dark.” (18:51, Eliza)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Tory Burch Show:
  • “When I get the invite every season, it’s like a little high because I know that I’m gonna want to buy stuff.” (02:43, Eliza)
• On Sandy Liang:
  • “Every single outfit, I feel like I see myself in everything that she makes.” (04:37, Tara)
• On Rachel Comey:
  • “The Rachel Comey girl and world stays really consistent and true to itself.” (06:15, Eliza)
• On Playfulness at NYFW:
  • “Sometimes fashion can feel so serious, so to be playful and fun—I love that.” (08:19, Bobby)
• On Street Style Trends:
  • “Flip flops are still here… They were still all over the runways.” (17:53, Bobby)
• On Standout Looks:
  • “Khaite look: cropped khaki jacket with short sleeves, dark wash rigid denim midi skirt... I would wear that entire outfit and walk out and feel so good in it.” (19:06, Eliza)
• Personal/Sentimental Fashion Moment:
  • “This dress is a Moschino dress… worn by Jenna Rink in 13 Going on 30. If little me had known, I’d die.” (20:36, Tara)
• On Fashion Dreams:
  • “Everyone who works in fashion has wanted to work in fashion since they were little and… we get to, like, soak up that energy.” (21:31, Eliza)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Segment/Topic | Timestamp | |----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Episode Introduction & NYFW Vibes | 01:24-02:37 | | Tory Burch Standout Highlights | 02:43-03:33 | | Trench Coat Styles & Staples | 03:33-04:26 | | Sandy Liang’s City-Inspired, Playful Collection | 04:32-05:32 | | Distinct Identity: Rachel Comey | 06:09-07:31 | | Dog Show: Susan Alexandra x Rachel Antonoff | 07:32-08:19 | | Proenza Schouler: Rachel Scott's Debut | 08:31-09:20 | | Tyler McGillivary’s Surprising “Mermaidcore” Show | 09:20-10:35 | | Celebrity Looks to Watch | 12:57-13:57 | | Key Trends | 14:07-18:11 | | Street Style: Planning (or Not) | 18:11-18:58 | | Each Editor’s Standout Fashion Week Moment | 19:06-21:31 |

Episode Wrap-Up

The episode closes with the editors expressing gratitude for their roles in the industry and the once-childhood dream come true of participating in Fashion Week.

• “We are so lucky that we get to do this.” (21:26, Bobby)

Final Notes

• Tone: Upbeat, conversational, personal, and deeply fashion-savvy.
• Useful For: Anyone seeking a real-time, on-the-ground scoop from NYFW S/S 26: new trends, favorite shows, up-and-coming talents, street style details, and insider hacks for both shopping and styling.
• Extra: For runway-inspired shopping picks, the team’s finds are curated on eBay (see episode description for link).