After eight days of running around Manhattan in frigid temperatures, another New York Fashion Week is in the books. Our InStyle editors frequented hundreds of shows—sometimes in teetering heels and on a diet of coffee alone—to bring you what’s new on the runways. There were micro florals and handkerchief hems at Altuzarra and mixed menswear prints at Derek Lam and Michael Kors, but, of course, that’s not all. Ahead, we break down the 22 trends, ideas, and styling tricks (that you can shop now—why wait until August?) that dominated the fall/winter 2016 shows. You can thank us later.
SEE NOW, BUY NOW, WEAR NOW
Designers, including Rebecca Minkoff, Diane von Furstenberg and Michael Kors, adopted a direct-to-consumer model for the season, giving shoppers the option to buy runway wares immediately after the show. Consider this the new fashion experience.
Diane von Furstenberg maxi dress, $698; dvf.com. Rebecca Minkoff jacket, $598; rebeccaminkoff.com. Michael Kors Collection top, $1,595; michaelkors.com.
LIQUID SILVER
Forget gold, it was gunmetal silver that caught our eye on the runways. Wear with a blazer and turtleneck a la Jill Stuart or with matching accessories, as seen at Cushnie et Ochs and Opening Ceremony.
Extreme Ruffles
Unusual asymmetric ruffles popped up at new label Sies Marjan and Rodarte in the form of pull-overs, Gothic-tinged dresses, and knee-high boots. The sweet motif just got ultra-cool.
Mixed Menswear Fabrics
We're fans of borrowing from the boys, so when various menswear checks, like herringbones and glen plaids, appeared mixed together on the Michael Kors Collection, Derek Lam, and Calvin Klein Colelction runways, it was an office-friendly #girlboss idea we could get behind.
Buttons as Embellishment
Designers opted out of superfluous sparkle in favor of the practical button for fall. The flourish adorned all sorts of pieces, from plunging V-neck midi dresses at Carolina Herrera to chunky knit sweaters at Monse to white day dresses at Prabal Gurung. Use discretion when unbuttoning.
Extra-Long Sleeves
Go long—extra long—with sleeves that extend past your hands to capture the effortless nonchalance seen at Tibi, Jason Wu, and Creatures of Comfort.
EVENING GOES LOW-KEY
Dress down a white gown or formal separates by accessorizing with a flat brogue. It's a cool-girl trick that's totally unexpected.
Runway looks, from left: Gabriela Hearst, Victoria Beckham
Get the Look
Rebecca Minkoff dress, $648; rebeccaminkoff.com. Burberry London brogues, $675; mytheresa.com.
FLARED EVERYTHING
Fluted silhouettes are nothing new—hello, flared jeans—but wearing two flares at once feels fresh. Consider pairing a sweeping coat and fluttering cropped pants, like at Creatures of the Wind, or sporting an easy dress with billowy sleeves and skirt, like at Jonathan Simkhai.
FURRY TOUCHES
Swap your furry stoles and chubbies in favor of plush collars and belts. Treat the accent sparingly—just a touch is enough.
Runway looks, clockwise from top left: Oscar de la Renta, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Jason Wu
Shop the Trend
From left: BEX nyc, $49 (originally $70); shopbop.com. Topshop, $15 (originally $70); topshop.com.
LAYERED SLEEVES
This is such an easy trick that we love. Simply layer a short-sleeved blouse, preferably with a bit of room, over a finely knit long-sleeve top for a warm and thought-out look.
Runway looks, from left: BCBG, Tommy Hilfiger, Opening Ceremony, Jill Stuart, Suno
Mansur Gavriel Goes Patent
Our love of all things Mansur Gavriel is well documented, so when the brand debuted a patent finish on its cool minimalist styles, we couldn't help but swoon.
Pink Suits
Even when sporting a suit, we like to show off our feminine side. And what better way to do that than choosing one washed in a blush hue?
Runway looks, from left: Gabriela Hearst, Creatures of Comfort
SCARF HEMS
To put it simply, asymmetric scarf hems ruled. They had a streetwear edge at Public School, a worldly quality at Altuzarra, and an everyday wearability at BCBG. Consider this your new skirt silhouette.
Subtle Slits
It's tough to show skin in the colder months, which is why Proenza Schouler, Cushnie et Ochs, and Victoria Beckham got creative with subtle slits and cut-outs in body-skimming dresses.
SCARF-AND-BAG COMBOS
Tying a scarf onto one's bag is nothing new, but Altuzarra showed us a new trick by weaving a paisley scarf into a chain-link strap saddle bag.
Get the Look
Frop top, left to right: Gucci scarf, $246; matchesfashion.com. Vince bag, $345; shopbop.com. Rebecca Minkoff bag, $295; shopbop.com. Rokins scarf, $108; selfridges.com.
Paul Andrew's FANCY FOOTWEAR
Throughout fashion month, the name Paul Andrew will continue to pop up because the shoe designer collaborated with 11 houses (pictured above: Rosie Assoulin, Tanya Taylor, and Jonathan Simkhai) for the fall 2016 season.
The Choker Comeback
The jewelry of the moment? Black chokers that tightly encircle one's neck. At Adam Selman, they were fanciful and Gothic, but at Rosie Assoulin and Alexander Wang, they exuded a modern badass edge.
STANDOUT SILVER EARRINGS
The oversize earring movement has been a trend for seasons, but for fall, they came in the form of strong sculputural silver pieces. Wear just one a la Trademark, or both, like at Creatures of the Wind and Adeam.
Shop the Trend
From left: Sophie Buhai, $550; net-a-porter.com. Arme De L'Amour, $125; net-a-porter.com. Jennifer Fisher, $245; jenniferfisherjewelry.com.
COLORFUL VELVET
Velvet is a cold-weather must, but for fall, the plush fabric got washed in rich hues, like rust at 3.1 Phillip Lim, petal pink at Monse, and gold at M. Martin.
ELEVATED EVERYDAY JACKETS
The parkas at Self-Portrait and the moto jackets at Marc Jacobs were elevated, thanks to luxe accents, like lace and fur.
