New York Fashion Week’s eight-day Fall 2018 season opened and closed with two head-turning homages to the 80s. Tom Ford kicked things off with a 36-piece collection filled with sequins and electric-hued animal spots; Marc Jacobs’ grand finale spotlit linebacker-shouldered coats, gigantic bow belts, baggy pleated trousers and all the rhinestones. In between, we saw a lot of the same.
Why designers’ sudden interest in the 80s? “That’s the moment when women first emerged in a real way into the workforce and they dominated with their big shoulders and bright colors,” explains Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour. Apparently championing comically oversized blazers, jauntily tied neck scarves, statement hosiery and hot pink everything is designers’ way of saying “Time’s up!”
Of course, there was also clothing for the more minimalist and modest among us (Matrix jackets, updated tracksuits and dresses fit for a Handmaiden’s Tale, for instance). Click through the slideshow above for a rundown of the top Fall 2018 fashion trends from New York Fashion Week.
[ Next: All the Runway Hits and Misses From New York Fashion Week Fall 2018 ]
NYFW Trends Fall 2018
-
Quilting
New York's runways were heavy on "survival clothes" — Anna Wintour's term — designed to make the wearer feel cozy and protected. A few models toted actual safety blankets, but most wore their quilts in jacket, pant and skirt form — such a cool, tactile lewk.
Tibi Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Quilting
Colovos Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Quilting
Derek Lam Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Quilting
Prabal Gurung Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Leopard Print
Bold animal prints — tiger, zebra, even cow — were everywhere, but none moreso than cheetah. Prepare to see spots all over coats, pants, bags, shoes, skirts, you name it.
Area Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Leopard Print
Calvin Klein Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Leopard Print
Collina Strada Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Leopard Print
Victoria Beckham Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Bright AF Animal Prints
The overarching theme of NYFW Fall 2018? Never be afraid to push the limits of taste. Blame the 80s being "back" or whatever, but joining the horde of regular ol' snakeskin and cheetah getups were a ton of shockingly bright — even rhinestone and fur-embellished — animal print Looks. (With a capital L.)
Vaquera Fall 2018; Image: Victor VIRGILE/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images
-
Bright AF Animal Prints
Miaou Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Bright AF Animal Prints
Tom Ford Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Bright AF Animal Prints
Zadig & Voltaire Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Sweatsuits and Tracksuits
Glamleisure is in (yes, still). The good news is that designers are getting slightly more creative with the sporty-chic look. For fall, you'll have plenty of casual yet put-together tracksuits from which to choose. Show your awareness of micro-trends by tucking your bottoms into knee-high boots or sporting a visible underwire top.
Rosie Assoulin Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Sweatsuits and Tracksuits
Pyer Moss Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Sweatsuits and Tracksuits
Jeremy Scott Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Sweatsuits and Tracksuits
Alexander Wang Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Covered-Up Flashdance Shoulder
The 80s have been back for the past few seasons and with it comes the classic Flashdance shoulder. However, given that modest, "monastic" clothes are also trending — again, Wintour's words — some designers dared not to bare, layering diagonal necklines over turtlenecks and button-downs for a chic optical illusion.
Marc Jacobs Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Covered-Up Flashdance Shoulder
Rosie Assoulin Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Covered-Up Flashdance Shoulder
3.1 Phillip Lim Fall 2018
-
Covered-Up Flashdance Shoulder
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Long Skirts with Tall Boots
Members of the minimalist, monastic camp will similarly appreciate this popular styling trick, which works particularly well with bright and/or patterned boots.
The Row Fall 2018; Image: Vogue
-
Long Skirts with Tall Boots
Zimmermann Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Long Skirts with Tall Boots
Tibi Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Long Skirts with Tall Boots
Rosie Assoulin Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Foil-Like Fabrics
Though there were whispers of Spring 2018's sequins trend — metallic paillettes showed up at Alexander Wang, Oscar de la Renta and Tanya Taylor — this season, designers gravitated more toward Mylar-like leather and other iridescent, almost holographic fabrics. Will Raf Simons' longline vests and slip dresses safeguard you against electromagnetic fields and alien mind control? Unlikely. But you'll look out-of-this-world wearing 'em.
Calvin Klein Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Foil-Like Fabrics
Area Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Foil-Like Fabrics
Sies Marjan Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Foil-Like Fabrics
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Plaid on Plaid
Plaid has been a tried-and-true print for a while now (as in, like, centuries). This fall, opt for non-grungy styling. Go for plaid-on-plaid suiting (a la Gabriela Hearst, Calvin Klein and more) or team it with moody florals and those oh-so-ubiquitous cheetah spots (a la Michael Kors).
Michael Kors Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Plaid on Plaid
Gabriela Hearst Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Plaid on Plaid
Calvin Klein Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Plaid on Plaid
Zimmermann Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Hot Pink
Millennial pink, step aside: hot pink is the new trendiest pink in town (this per Alexander Wang, Anna Sui, Tory Burch, Ulla Johnson, Oscar de la Renta, Adam Selman and basically every major New York designer). Be extra extra and rock the color top-to-toe. Or pair it with plaid.
Matthew Adams Dolan Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Hot Pink
Cushnie et Ochs Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Hot Pink
Ulla Johnson Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Hot Pink
Adam Selman Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Matrix Coats
We knew that as soon as we saw Kim Kardashian and Bella Hadid wearing them — the latter with her signature Roberi & Fraud specs, obv — Matrix-style trenches were probably going to catch on. And there they were, all over New York's Fall 2018 runways. Take the red pill, see if the Internet rabbit hole leads you to an affordable vegan option.
Alexander Wang Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Matrix Coats
Coach 1941 Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Matrix Coats
Christian Siriano Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Matrix Coats
Juicy Couture Fall 2018
Image: Vogue
-
Scarves with a Chokehold
Turn a classic prep school styling trick on its ear; fill the void left behind by your now-retired chokers. Take a scarf, sweatshirt, sweater or puffer coat and wrap it tightly around your neck — really, as close as comfort allows.
Image: Imaxtree
-
Scarves with a Chokehold
Tibi Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Scarves with a Chokehold
Marc Jacobs Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Scarves with a Chokehold
Michael Kors Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Statement Tights
Maximalists, rejoice. Eye-grabby tights — Crayola-colored, patterned, fishnet, lace — were everywhere during NYFW. What can we say, we called it.
Jeremy Scott Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Statement Tights
Anna Sui Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Statement Tights
Zadig & Voltaire Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Statement Tights
Tom Ford Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Rainbow (Faux) Furs
Sometimes art imitates life, sometimes life imitates art. Come Fall 2018, street stylers will have to choose between their trusty, wackily dyed Shrimps and Saks Potts furs and the newer iterations put forth by Christian Siriano, Tibi, Michael Kors and more.
Michael Kors Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Rainbow (Faux) Furs
Saks Potts Fall 2018
Image: Vogue
-
Rainbow (Faux) Furs
Tibi Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Rainbow (Faux) Furs
Christian Siriano Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Florals
Florals for fall? Not exactly groundbreaking, but we appreciated the moody yet romantic takes.
Brock Collection Fall 2018; Image: Imaxtree
-
Florals
Hellessy Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Florals
Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2018
Image: Imaxtree
-
Florals
Oscar de la Renta
Image: Imaxtree
