NYFW Trend Forecast: What’s Next for Fashion and Beauty | Ginger Sparks No. 8
First signals worth watching before they catch fire: from stiletto nail to stiletto heel!
Lights, cameras — where do we even begin? The Gingers are pulling sparks straight from our NYFW notes. This one’s a little longer than our usual Spark, so be sure to click through to the browser for the full review. For those of you who don’t know, the Gingers used to cover Fashion Week extensively: posted at the shows, in the showrooms, and then back at the fashion office, turning it all into client-ready trend reports. Back in the day, that meant downloading every runway image from First View before Style.com—ahem, VogueRunway.com—ahem,—Vogue.com—covered everything in real time. Different era!
While our lens was always fashion-first, we naturally tracked the beauty signals coming through too: the hair, the skin, the casting, the mood. Now, we focus on the broader cultural undercurrent: beauty included, watching what’s moving product, what’s shifting aesthetics, and what’s quietly building momentum across industries.
Marc Jacobs Opens the Week and Reopens the Beauty Conversation Marc Jacobs always finished out NYFW, then went to his own schedule. This week, he got fashion folks talking yet again, starting on Monday. Where most designers are cryptic about their collection references, Marc was blatantly transparent, referencing his past shows, YSL Couture, Stüssy, and Prada 1996, all there for everyone to see in the show notes. He also credited Lower East Side vintage store, Ellen, firmly putting it on the map as a treasure trove of “beautiful old clothes” that she loves.
And then there were the wigs! Models were cast and had their hair copied into glam wigs, created by @hollismithhead and @Dimitri Giannetos, and rendered perfectly undone by Oribe. Celebrities have long been known to have nearly imperceptible wigs of their hair created, why not mere mortals? Lastly, according to internet lore, Marc Jacobs Beauty is officially coming back. Finger-on-the-pulse beauty account @trendmood1 shared that at the recent NYFW runway show, Marc Jacobs Beauty was credited as the makeup partner. Makeup artist Thomas DeKluyver (one to watch) directed the beauty look, pairing soft pastel shadow with concentrated pink blush, bold black liner, and deep oxblood lips—romantic, graphic, unmistakably Marc.
Originally launched in 2013 and quietly pulled in 2021, the brand left behind serious cult favorites: the Coconut Collection, Dew Drops Illuminator, Highliner Gel Eyeliner, and the jumbo O! Mega bronzers—to which we were devotees! Momentum is clearly building. The official @marcjacobsbeauty account is active again with a simple message: “Stay tuned.”
Ginger Spark: If heritage hero SKUs are refreshed with a modern look, this could land perfectly in today’s nostalgia-meets-polish beauty cycle. Safe to say we’re waiting with bated breath…and a nearly empty Highliner.
Khaite: Erotic Precision Khaite delivered a show that felt controlled, cerebral, and undeniably erotic. Raquel Zimmermann opened, long a Grace Coddington favorite, setting the tone with disciplined glamour, while Doutzen Kroes added supermodel gravitas to the lineup.
Sharp tailoring anchored the collection, layered with sheer illusion mesh, lace, velvet, and leather that revealed skin in deliberate flashes. Hussar-style frogging and ornate passementerie introduced a ceremonial romance, while rosary-length cross chains heightened the tension. The snakeskin opera gloves were a standout. Snakeskin is notoriously difficult to execute without veering cheesy or theatrical. We think of Phoebe Philo–era Céline and Chloé as masters of that controlled sensuality, and not every brand can land it. Khaite does, especially when the gloves meet razor tailoring and sheer silhouettes.
Beauty sealed the mood. Nails by Mei Kawajiri were dramatically elongated stiletto shapes in inky black and chrome — sculptural, almost weapon-like. Pat McGrath’s dark, moody lips and Guido’s sleek, disciplined hair kept everything precise. As shared on Bergdorf Goodman’s Instagram, Linda Fargo summed it up best: “If Helmut Newton designed a collection, this might be it.”
Ginger Spark: This was erotic restraint at its finest. Leather against lace, braid against bare skin, opera gloves stretching into weapon-length nails. Nothing sloppy or ironic. Just power, polish, and sex appeal executed with total control.
Christian Siriano Goes From Lace to Lotion Sexy black lace, dramatic volume, Coco Rocha in full force, and what appeared to be bird feathers that were actually precision-trimmed faux fur defined Christian Siriano’s Fall 2026 runway. The show delivered controlled glamour and theatrical texture, reminding everyone that Siriano understands fantasy but executes with discipline. He also introduced RRunway, a seven-piece skincare line priced under $50. As first reported by Vogue, hero products include the Radiance Ready Moisturizer, reportedly his sister’s favorite, and the caffeinated Stage Bright Eye Cream, his personal pick.
The timing feels intentional. As skincare becomes the foundation of modern beauty routines, designers are treating it as a natural extension of their creative universe rather than a side licensing play. Siriano has experimented in the space before through a 2023 collaboration with Olay and backstage partnerships with Borghese that brought skincare into the runway environment.
Ginger Spark: This is not merch, it’s narrative control. Siriano is building the look from skin to silhouette, positioning prep as power and skincare as part of the performance.
Proenza Schouler’s Smudge Theory At Proenza Schouler Fall 2026, Rachel Scott leaned into imperfection as the beauty code, sending out a deliberately smudged red lip that felt undone, emotional, and slightly off balance in the best way. We did a double-take when we saw it. It was incredibly unexpected and odd. We immediately took screenshots and said WTF? Makeup artist Thomas DeKluyver, as mentioned before, created the look using Byredo’s Red Coma, intentionally blurring it across the lips rather than tracing it perfectly. Skin remained fresh, hair effortless, and the overall effect favored attitude over precision. We have high hopes for Rachel and the direction she is taking.
Ginger Spark: Imperfection is the new polish.
Ralph Lauren Collection: Romantic, Rugged, Refined At the Jack Shainman Gallery, Ralph Lauren transformed the space with hand-painted forest canvases and layered antique rugs (Zegna Men’s, anyone?), creating a cinematic, windswept world that felt transportive yet intimate. He has always been masterful at building entire universes around a collection, and this season was no exception. The collection moved through rich browns and olives, chocolate hosiery, fur, boots, and slouchy tailoring, with draping, brooches, and chains styled in a regal, heirloom way. Distressed heritage handbags reinforced the lived-in luxury mood, balancing romance with wearability.
Beauty stayed soft and undone, underscoring Lauren’s perfectly imperfect sensibility. Makeup was by Diane Kendal and hair by Guido Palau, keeping skin fresh and hair effortless against the depth of texture and palette. Blush, as with several collections (even TWP), became a new makeup darling, heightening the feminine flush.
Ginger Spark: As minimalism cools, romance and heritage return. Texture, deep browns and lodens, heirloom hardware, and softly undone beauty are poised to resonate well beyond the runway. Leather corsets and pageantry are ready for Wuthering Heights references.
Coach: Courage, Prep, and the Kiss-Lock Comeback Stuart Vevers opened with a deconstructed blazer, immediately setting the tone for a collection that balanced slacker ease with ladylike polish. Faded denim, soft tailoring, and dress-and-sneaker pairings grounded the look in approachable prep. It felt nostalgic but not costume, polished but still relaxed.
Accessory-wise, the kiss-lock continues to anchor the conversation. Structured leather bags and vintage-inspired frame clutches added heritage charm without rigidity. The Large Kisslock Frame Bag gained traction after its runway debut, selling out and becoming a social media favorite. For Fall 2026, Coach debuted the updated Kisslock Frame Bag 30. Retailing at $350, it dropped almost immediately after the show through the brand’s “Shop the Runway” release. Reddit already has thoughts (”they really are cute”)—and yes, it’s already sold out. The original oversized Large Kisslock, which retailed for around $695+, is now available through retailers like Dillard’s and on resale platforms such as The RealReal for as much as $1,196.00, signaling sustained demand well beyond its initial launch.
Beauty fully embraced the show’s “Courage to Be Real” message. As confirmed by @patmcgrathreal, skin was prepped with Divine Skin: Rose 001™ The Essence and Hydrating Glow Cream to create luminous, breathable radiance. Sheer taupes softly structured the eyes, and natural balms enhanced each model’s individuality rather than masking it. Hair was by Guido Palau, nails by Naomi Yasuda, reinforcing a fresh, expressive, effortlessly real finish.
Ginger Spark: Prep is back, but make it emotionally available. Varsity codes, glow-first beauty, and heritage hardware deliver polish without the pressure. Dig in Grandma’s closet for that kiss-lock clutch (she won’t mind, she’s thrilled it’s relevant again).
Tory Burch: Sardine Girl Goes to Finishing School A standout collection with the whole prep reboot, Tory’s team moved between a toughened-chic version of the classic mood (with shirting and crewnecks tucked into slick patent) and EmRata in a bold blue ruched dress, popular between 2012-14. The whole primary direction wasn’t lost here, with a strong red and softened creamy yellow that punctuated rich neutrals. A continuing Sardine Girl Summer moved straight into Fall/Winter ‘26/27, in multiple pins and dangling scaly metal necklaces. The use of metallics (as at Ralph) was almost medieval at times, but never over-the-top.
Ginger Spark: The masters of prep are smart to merchandise as a more subtle styling reference (like Coach’s kiss-lock) rather than a head-to-toe look. The refreshing mix offers a welcome, modern take on moneyed wardrobing.
Michael Kors Collection: Glamour, Refined Presented at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center: a knowing nod to Fashion Week’s Lincoln Center years (2009–2015), Michael Kors delivered a collection grounded in glamorous restraint. The palette was sharply edited: black, white, and charcoal formed the foundation, punctuated by saturated reds, deep Bordeaux, and touches of warm ochre. In a city that lives in gray and black, those wine-toned shades felt intentional: less about drama, more about emphasis. That focus carried into beauty, where bright red nails matched the models’ lipstick, reinforcing the collection’s controlled, head-to-toe polish. The result was confident and considered, with color used as a precise exclamation point rather than excess.
Ginger Spark: City neutrals aren’t going anywhere—but red is back as the power accent. When everything else is restrained, one saturated shade (matched from lip to nail) does all the talking.
Ulla Johnson: Color, Craft, and the Scent of Expansion For Fall/Winter 2026, Ulla Johnson delivered a collection that felt richly expressive yet less overtly bohemian than seasons past. Emerald, oxblood, cherry, and cerulean mixed with softer blush and baby blue, grounded by tawny and black, with hints of metallics adding quiet shine. Blankets slung over models’ arms and knee-high socks styled with opera gloves gave the looks a tactile, almost literary polish. Beauty followed suit with tousled hair and blurred pink lips: soft, but deliberate.
The runway evolution aligns with a major brand expansion. This spring, Ulla Johnson will introduce three eau de parfums — Adriatic Gold, Drift Rose, and Baroque Garden — developed over three years with perfumer Lyn Harris, according to Fashionista. The scents will launch alongside candles and incense, marking a full step into ritual and atmosphere.
Ginger Spark: When a designer launches scent before color cosmetics, it’s about world-building. Eau de parfum, candles, incense: this is mood ownership. Ulla isn’t just dressing her customer anymore; she’s scenting the room.
7 For All Mankind: The Morning After, Amplified Under creative director Nicola Brognano, 7 For All Mankind tapped into pure late-aughts downtown energy: confident, clubby, and intentionally a little chaotic. We witnessed the party girl comeback, complete with makeup yet once again by Pat McGrath, lived in from the night before with undereye shadow/dark circle emphasis (surely Mary-Kate and Ashley approved). The return of the “Morning After Bag” set the tone: that Rebecca Minkoff–coded, fits-your-whole-life silhouette, Michelle admittedly used to stuff with extra leggings, undies, makeup, and a tee. But this wasn’t a one-bag moment. Oversized carryalls and structured weekender bags in black and chocolate croc dominated, sometimes doubled up on one arm. ( Did this prepare us for designer diaper bags?) She’s not going home yet!
We spotted skinny jeans, sharp peacoats, layered T-shirts, and cropped denim and leather jackets, meeting oversized scarves. Hair was a moment: deliberately tucked into collars: very Olsen twins, very French tuck, often paired with Ray-Ban Wayfarers. Add brooches, stacked bracelets (did we even spot a club wristband?), and yes, opera gloves yet again. The finishing touch? Sky-high platform stilettos unmistakably reminiscent of the YSL Tribtoo era. Fashion gods, WHERE is Stefano Pilati?
Ginger Spark: The real question: are we back in a designer denim era? Is it time to dust off the Alexander Wang Emile bag? Was Cat Marnell somewhere in the front row? With smudged under-eye makeup, tucked hair, and towering platforms, this felt underground and knowingly chaotic! When the bags get bigger, it’s not about minimalism: it’s about being prepared for the next move. She packed for the night, the morning, and maybe even Monday.
Stay tuned for London!
