NYFW Spring/Summer 2026 Ready-to-Wear Recap

Minimalism defined New York Fashion Week this season—pared-back silhouettes, fluid tailoring, and subtle plays of color gave the runways a sense of ease. Designers avoided severity, adding unexpected twists: sea-glass green at Proenza Schouler, desert tones at Michael Kors, collage contrasts at Jason Wu, and cinematic minimalism at Calvin Klein. Each offered a unique expression of restraint with personality.

Nails followed the same pared-down path. Sheers, buffed shine, and matte finishes dominated, while color was used sparingly but with intent: sea blues and cocoa neutrals at Proenza Schouler, deep reds and burgundies at Jason Wu. Simplicity—with impact—emerged as the season’s defining beauty message.

Rachel Scott’s debut balanced Proenza Schouler’s codes with her artisanal sensibility. Signature reds, blues, and yellows appeared in paler and acid-tinged tones, with highlights like a sea-glass green silk dress printed with blurred chrysanthemums.

Her goal was to reinterpret handcraft through the brand’s language, blending refinement with individuality and signaling a thoughtful new direction.

For nails, Scott turned to JINsoon Sea Clay, Toff, and Pixie—a translucent trio that echoed her palette and enhanced different skin tones with subtle sophistication.

Michael Kors presented desert hues, pajama-inspired sets, and shimmering paillette dresses that embodied travel-ready glamour. “When you travel, you learn about yourself—you learn about elegance and sophistication. That’s what this collection conveys,” he explained.

He emphasized “elegant and sensual, not shrink-wrap sexy,” with draped silhouettes, fluid separates, and sheer overlays. Casting celebrated women of all ages and sizes while reclaiming the word “sophisticated.”

For nails, Kors returned to his favorite look: a buff-and-shine finish using the JINsoon Effortless Buffer & Shiner. Naturally glossy nails perfectly matched the collection’s understated polish.

Veronica Leoni’s second collection for Calvin Klein captured the raw beauty of New York through minimalism—glimpses of early mornings, late nights, and authenticity beyond social media gloss.

She described the brand as “a way of being,” updating Klein’s legacy with refined fabrications and stripped-back silhouettes that felt both familiar and fresh.

Nails kept the mood consistent: a single coat of JINsoon Matte Maker on hands and toes. The matte finish delivered Leoni’s vision of urban minimalism—modern, simple, and unembellished.

Jason Wu drew from Robert Rauschenberg’s collage technique, splicing shirting into dresses and layering organza with silk strips. Unfinished hems and exposed construction highlighted his embrace of imperfection.

“We are in a time where things are complicated and we can’t pretend everything is perfect, because it never was,” Wu said. His fragmented designs carried a poetic, artful edge.

For nails, Wu chose JINsoon Idyll (brick red), Audacity (deep burgundy), and Dew (sheer creamy neutral). The shades, selected by skin tone and outfit, echoed the collection’s interplay of contrast, structure, and expressive imperfection.