NYFW Designers Strip Back as Resale and $2 Beauty Rule

The New York Post reports designers scaled back lavish beauty and leaned into resale, while Teen Vogue credits bold blush and pink lips.

The New York Post reports that this season's New York Fashion Week, which kicked off Thursday, September 10, saw designers deliberately stripping back amid an affordability crisis. According to the Post, Diane von Furstenberg's runway collection was a hit parade of the label's 1970s and '80s heyday, meaning the original wrap dresses are already available secondhand for as little as $30 at Brooklyn and Queens thrift stores. The Post also reports Proenza Schouler reissued its PS1 tote, an 'it' bag of 2008, as a near-clone of the original — making near-identical versions findable on resale sites for about $200.

The New York Post reports that luxe labels including Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger and Ralph Lauren sent models like Gigi Hadid and Anok Yai down the runway with in-the-buff nails, a major shift from the expensive nail art that once dominated shows — a move the Post frames as designers cutting distractions as NYC manicure prices surge. The Post adds that Tory Burch paired embroidered wool sweaters and a butter-yellow coat with inky black nails created with a $1.99 Wet 'n Wild polish. Teen Vogue, meanwhile, found blush was the focal point at Cult Gaia, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch and Kim Shui, and reports bright pink lipstick made a comeback at Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Connor Ives and Tommy Hilfiger.

Teen Vogue's editors, on the ground for Spring/Summer 2027, report bold early-2010s-style colors are sneakily returning, that eyeshadow is being used differently rather than dead, and that soft, barely-there waves shown at TWP, Ralph Lauren, Jane Wade and Tommy Hilfiger could become the new slick back. The outlet also highlights a shaded-undereye trick at TWP, Tory Burch and Kim Shui that adds dimension, plus color-coordinated makeup at Diane von Furstenberg and Proenza Schouler. Per the Post, Anna Wintour debuted a custom striped Michael Kors look minutes before it hit the runway, which the paper calls a stylish spoiler suggesting zebra stripes may replace leopard print.

The New York Post reports Coach glitter-bombed its entire front row during the finale, dusting models and $800 bags with silver confetti and topping looks with $2 metallic stick-on bows of the birthday-party variety. The paper also notes Alice + Olivia's Stacey Bendet commissioned 20-foot-tall stilettos that Paris Hilton ducked under for photos, while Calvin Klein showed woven sandals with no sides — and artist Terrence Zhou's Bad Binch TongTong unveiled a jaw-dropping balloon-like look at Manhattan's Balloon Museum.