New York Fashion Week has come to an end, kicking off a month’s worth of shows (London, Paris and Milan are up next) from some of our favourite designers. But before we jump up and rush on to the next city, let’s take a moment to reflect on the things we saw in the Big Apple. After all, it’s these shows that dictate the trends that will start to seep through next summer, so it always pays to have a head start.

Here in New York, Khaite stood out as a highlight with rich leather looks, sharp tailoring and splashes of baby pink and red shades. This is a brand we continually try to channel via our own outfits, especially when it comes to more formal fits.

Adding classic American style into the mix, household labels Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Coach stuck to the collegiate style they’re best known for. Think varsity jackets, boldly coloured polo shirts and statement-making slogan T-shirts.

Plus, those who were paying attention when Copenhagen Fashion Week showcased its spring/summer collections early last month won’t be surprised to learn that transparent touches were in no short supply. Palomo Spain truly leant into the near-naked look with dresses sewn from see-through fabrics; Ralph Lauren gently touched on it with sheer shirts; and Khaite styled more formal sheer pieces for a modest take on the trend.

It’s safe to say the city that never sleeps wasn’t lacking in inspiration this season. Below, we’ve rounded up the top five trends to take note of, and, unsurprisingly, we’ve already seen some of them last season, so it shouldn’t be too hard to step into them in the year ahead. However, one of the most popular looks took us by surprise: despite it being chic, it could get sweaty in summer. 

Collegiate style is one of the most famous fashion trends in the US, and when Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Coach all appeared on the New York Fashion Week schedule, it was no surprise when the trend came through thick and fast. Coming down the runway were polo shirts tucked into shorts, logo-crested blazers and clashing coloured checks that wouldn’t look out of place during freshers’ week. Throw a jumper over your shoulders and shrug on a rugby shirt if you’re tempted to try out the trend. 

While leathers are much loved around autumn and winter time, we were surprised to see them popping up so frequently on the spring/summer catwalks. It’s not exactly a warm-weather fabric, after all. Seasonal confusion aside, however, every leather look we saw was exceptionally chic, from Khaite’s longline leather shorts and blazer set to Proenza Schouler’s tie-waist leather dress and Nanushka’s faux finds, proving everyone can get involved with the look. This is one we’ll be moving up a few months and channelling as soon as the temperature drops. 

Sheer fabrics have been enormously popular this year, with Chloé and Simone Rocha kicking off the see-through trend back in February. Since then, designers at Copenhagen Fashion Week turned to transparent touches in August, and New York has followed suit. Adding a formal feel, Ralph Lauren leant into slightly sheer white shirts and Khaite added transparent elements to trousers, blouses and the odd statement-making dress. Palomo Spain, meanwhile, used sheer fabrics to make a statement through evening dresses and bodysuits. 

When it comes to prints and patterns, leopard has reigned supreme this year. And while Simon Miller and Palomo Spain both showcased the style, it appears a new pattern could be emerging as countless NYFW designers homed in on statement-making stripes. Whether shown in a preppy fashion at Tommy Hilfiger, a chic, structured suit at Proenza Schouler or a striking knit dress at Diotima, stripes were showcased in a whole host of ways, proving they’re the most versatile pattern to pick no matter your personal style. 

Images: Getty; Proenza Schouler; Khaite; Diotima