7 surprising takeaways from New York Fashion Week spring 2027

New York Fashion Week came and went, but best believe, it didn’t disappoint. Despite being the shortest stint of fashion month, the five-day affair was stacked with unexpected moments, proving that NYFW isn’t dead after all.

We kicked off our week with Rachel Antonoff and Susan Alexandra, watching tiny dogs strut the catwalk in bedazzled collars. Our eyes were set on the fashion week newcomers, some of whom reintroduced a polarizing trend ahead of spring, while streamer Kai Cenat made his divisive debut as a designer with the hotly anticipated Vivet. Of course, many of our favorite musicians were front and center on and off the catwalk, some of whom performed live and even debuted new music on the runway. Keep reading to see our recap of the best standout shows, trends, and underrated moments at New York Fashion Week spring/summer 2027.

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This season, there was an abundance of A-listers and up-and-coming musicians. After a long day of shows, rapper Trim performed her hit track “Nobody” at the launch party for literary dating app Readme. 21 Savage attended Tommy Hilfiger and Public School New York, while Lil Yachty assisted in styling and walked alongside Loe Shimmy, Jorjiana, and more at Domenico Formichetti’s ’90s-inspired sportswear show. The Ben Doctor aftershow featured a DJ set from The Femcels plus performances from B0YG1RL and a surprise appearance by Cortisa Star. And SZA invited fans to view her gorp-inspired shoe collection with Vans – she was joined by Ravyn Lenae, who also popped up at the Tory Burch show.

Speaking of front rows, Rosalía and Teyana Taylor were among those sitting in Calvin Klein’s star-studded seats, while Grace Ling hosted Becky G, JoJo, and Muni Long. Saweetie was also in attendance, later making her rounds at Kim Shui and Luar. Even more surprising, the “My Type” rapper made her runway debut at Bad Binch TongTong.

Of course, K-pop idols are always a staple at fashion week. BLACKPINK's Jisoo sat next to Camila Cabello at Tommy Hilfiger, while rising girl group KiiiKiii partied with Troye Sivan at Coach’s 85th anniversary showcase. Though not a musician, we couldn’t help but notice Alysa Liu at Anna Sui — a music icon in her own right!

For spring 2027, waistbands are sitting lower – like, a lot lower. Emerging designer Ben Doctor debuted a slew of low-slung bottoms down the catwalk. But in some cases, you might see a crack slip. New York newcomer Ella Mae sent a model in a (literal) cheeky pair, which were exposed from underneath a gown. After sagging made a comeback last year, it’s no surprise that the bumster trend seems to be staging its return too. Just don’t be shocked by what you might see when pants start to hang lower.

Once again, KidSuper’s Colm Dillane proves he’s for the people. The designer’s second annual edition of The People’s Runway introduced a fresh slate of local designers. This time around, newcomers Kuai Li, Lamin Rey Jaiteh, Laurel Tiange Fang, Moses Aina, and Roderick Reyes were enlisted to present their collections to the public at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

But showgoers were in for a surprise: Wyclef Jean hit the stage and brought out Ms. Lauryn Hill for an unexpected reunion, with the two Fugees artists performing “Ready or Not,” 30 years after the release of their album, The Score. The FOMO was real on this one.

Clothes are the main event at fashion week, but there are a handful of designers we’d definitely pass the aux to. Anna Sui shared her punk-rock runway playlist for spring 2027, which featured bands like The Femcels, The Lindas Lindas, and Fontaines D.C. And Sandy Liang never fails to deliver on the music front, with this season’s standout being “Born Fire” by K-pop girl group LE SSERAFIM.

Like Wyclef Jean and Ms. Lauryn Hill, musicians also had their hand on runway soundtracks. Lil Yachty debuted two unreleased tracks at Domenico Formichetti; Solange Knowles worked on Calvin Klein’s soundtrack alongside artist Laurie Anderson and producer Kid Harpoon. And Slayyyter closed out Tommy Hilfiger, performing her songs “UNKNOWN LOVERZ” and “Dance” live on the runway. And up at Storm King, Carly Rae Jepsen opted for an IRL performance at the Collina Strada show, singing “Cut to the Feeling” at the show’s finale.

Celebrities aside, trans models were truly the stars of NYFW. Model Alex Consani was spotted at shows all week long, walking for brands like Calvin Klein and Michael Kors. Conner Ives brought the dolls out at his inaugural New York show, which featured Dominique Jackson, Essence Thomas, Dara, and Hari Nef. Grace Ling also enlisted Dominique Jackson, while Dauphinette tapped Vivian Jenna Wilson for yet another season; this time, she wore a vintage brocade and silk chiffon ensemble, and a baguette bag in hand.

Girlhood is constantly being reinterpreted and reinvented at fashion week. For spring 2027, expect bows and ribbons to be swapped for more functional finishes. Take Sandy Liang, who infused her signature girly styles in favor of utility — think pockets, pouches, technical funnel-neck jackets, drawstrings, and track pants.

Meanwhile, Collina Strada took a detour to Upstate New York to touch grass: at Storm King Art Center, the designer debuted an array of baggy cargo pants tinged with medieval and grungy notes as models sprinted across the green. Jane Wade brought camp literally to the runway — flowy hoods, tents, and backpacks were inspired by her Oregon upbringing. Tyler McGillvary was also in on the nature trend, opting for watercolor prints and umbrellas on the runway.

This season’s wildcard goes to streamer Kai Cenat, who debuted his clothing line Vivet. Prior to the launch, the Twitch juggernaut spent months studying sewing, textile manufacturing, pattern-making, and leather construction in Italy, according to Business of Fashion.

Cenat was inspired by the likes of artistic director Demna and Ye (née Kanye West), and tapped Pharrell Williams for design advice. As a result, the collection nods to modern tailoring with hints of sportswear and streetwear cues. Sleek leather styles, oversized windbreakers, and logo-adorned hoods were among the vast assortment. The internet has thoughts on whether Cenat deserves a fashion week slot. But honestly? We were pleasantly surprised — and we may be copping a thing or two now that the collection is already live.