Straight From the Streets of NYFW: 6 Trends Fashion’s Coolest Dressers Are Wearing

Consider this your fall shopping list.

For some, mid-September means back to school and the start of football season. For fashion people, it means it’s time for another New York Fashion Week. NYFW spring/summer 2026 is wrapping up, and the beautiful weather in NYC means the show attendees have had the freedom to wear their best looks—sans concerns about puddles and umbrellas. While the runways have been filled with upcoming spring trends, the fashion crowd has been embracing all of the latest fall trends to view the collections over the past week.

I put my fashion-editor sleuthing skills to work and examined hundreds of outfit photos in search of the trends that popped up the most outside the spring/summer 2026 shows. Six, in particular, caught my attention repeatedly, and they happen to be some of the most wearable fall trends. Below, see them IRL on the streets of NYC and shop the standout fall trends for yourself.

Checks, Please

Step aside, stripes and polka dots—the It classic print of fall is plaid. The fashion crowd incorporated plaid into their NYFW wardrobes via shirts, skirts, dresses, and outerwear, giving their outfits a preppy-chic feel in every instance.

Shop Checked Pieces

Reformation Beck Plaid Trench Coat

Favorite Daughter The Manor Cotton Button-Up Shirt

ZW Collection Plaid Cape Skirt

Lace Everything

Of all the street style trends I spotted at this season’s shows, romantic lace was probably the most prominent. Whether as an accent or head-to-toe lace, the fashion crowd went wild for the trend. If you want some fall shopping inspiration, I highly suggest adding a lace piece or two to your list.

Shop Lace Pieces

Isabel Marant Gaelle Top

J.Crew Gwen Lace-Trim Slip Skirt in Luster Charmeuse

DÔEN Katarina Dress

Red Accent Sweaters

For the past several seasons, there’s been an It red piece, and the buzzy piece for fall 2025 appears to be the red accent sweater. To attend the shows, the fashion crowd wore them draped over their shoulders, around their waists, and layered underneath outerwear. There’s no easier way to add a pop of color to your outfit.

Shop Red Sweaters

Alex Mill Nottinghill Merino Wool Blend Sweater

Banana Republic Lightweight Cashmere V-Neck Sweater

Polo Ralph Lauren Cotton Cable Knit Sweater

All the Animal Prints

As I’m sure you recall, last fall was all about leopard print. It’s still very much a thing, but this fall, all animal prints are on board. Spotted outside the shows (in addition to leopard) were snake, zebra, and cow print. You can go the subtle route and incorporate the trend via an accessory or make a statement with a dress or jacket. Either way, you’ll look incredibly forward this season.

Shop Animal-Print Pieces

BLACK SUEDE STUDIO Arie Ponyhair Slippers

Reformation Adette Dress

KHAITE Lori Snake-Effect Leather Shoulder Bag

Column Skirts

Flared skirts are lovely, but the trend all over the sidewalks of New York for the past several days has been column skirts. Think of them as longer pencil skirts. If you ask me, it’s one of the chicest, most elegant trends of the season, and I love seeing how the show attendees styled them. (More often than not, it was with basics.)

Shop Column Skirts

FRAME The Column Denim Midi Skirt

J.Crew Pencil Midi Skirt in Four-Season Stretch

Reformation Britt Skirt

Tan Outerwear

The brown-outerwear trend of last fall and winter is still alive and well, but the outerwear color I saw again and again on the streets of NYFW was tan. Whether in the form of a trench, barn jacket, or bomber (to name a few), tan was everywhere I looked. Like brown, it’s one of those outerwear colors that looks elegant no matter what you wear with it.

Shop Tan Outerwear

ANINE BING Greer Jacket

Banana Republic Relaxed Suede Trucker Jacket

COS Cotton Car Coat