September holds special significance when you’re interested in high fashion. Yes, it’s the beginning of a new semester with new classes and routines. But if you are anything like me, the month means something else entirely: Fashion week is here, and it’s everything.
Whether it was New York, Milan, or Paris, I found myself waking up during early dawn just to catch a live show, trading in my sleep to witness a front-row moment online. There is something so captivating about the fashion industry in September; its fashion’s January. A new year, new collections, and new major moments that are worth losing sleep over. Things are significantly changing, and this season brought so much.
Every collection, every city, and every moment is wrapping up. As September comes to an end, so does fashion week. The season is just about over. While all the shows were important in their own ways, there were pieces that stood out, the ones that actually shifted things. I’ve watched it all, filtered through the noise, and settled on what actually matters. The runway shows that enchanted everyone. The designers who reminded us why we care. The moments that are worth your attention.
So here’s what you actually need to know about September Fashion Week 2026.
1. anthony vaccarello is rumored to be leaving ysl
On September 29 in Paris, Anthony Vaccarello gave Saint Laurent what felt like a goodbye. After his ten years as creative director, he completely defined what the house means today. His recent spring/summer collection gave us all golds and blacks, statement pieces that say go big or go home. We saw different shades and textures, including metallic cotton, jacquard, brocade, and lace, mixed with structured silhouettes that have reference to actual Saint Laurent archives. Yet, he still managed to make it feel completely new. Rumors say he’s heading to Louis Vuitton…with that in mind, this definitely felt like the final show.
2. Is gucci back?
Gucci has gone through many rebrands over its years, and while it still mildly upsets me that I wasn’t around for the 90’s Tom Ford Gucci moment, this show with artistic director Demma definitely gives me the feeling I’ve longed for. On September 25 in Milan, Demma showed us “the complete vision” he had for the brand with this show. It was bold, big, and stunning! With fur coats, knee-high boots, and a comeback of the infamous Gucci logo belt. The show represents Gucci in the best way possible; the media also seems to collectively agree that Gucci is back.
3. the chanel show features coco chanel’s vintage purse
On October 5 in Paris, creative director Matthieu Blazy presented Chanel’s Summer 2027 show. Defined as “past, present, future”, the collection tributes to all the best moments in Chanel history while also giving us new designs. Blazy’s collections often have an essence of traditional luxury, mixed with light colours, but this show was quite out of the ordinary. Bright red printed jackets, jade and turquoise skirts, colourful tweed, it surprisingly worked well. The most notable part was when the opening and closing models wore the original purse that Coco Chanel had designed and used in 1955, which Blazy pulled straight from the archives.
4. Carolina herrera celebrates its 45 year anniversary
On September 14 in New York, Carolina Herrera displayed its spring collection. Unlike the dark and bold statements presented in Gucci or YSL, the show left the crowd stunned with its feminine and elegant pieces. From flowy skirts to pastel florals, it was the perfect homage to when it all started in 1981. A fun inspiration was 1980s New York, with silk scarves tied over the head, overly large sunglasses, and a trench coat; the creative director described the look as someone “hailing a cab on Park Avenue. The most notable moment, however, was the tribute to the famous artist, Andy Warhol. Andy Warhol and Carolina Herrera shared a close friendship in the late 1970s, where he painted her portrait in exchange for her Van Cleef clutch. This bond was beautifully spotlighted while the pop art portrait was featured on the pieces in the collection.
5. WE CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF JONATHAN ANDERSON’S DIOR
Some of the most gorgeous looks of fashion week displayed the Dior petal ensembles, jackets, and skirts made entirely of petals, hand-cut and hand-sewn. Featured on September 29 in Paris, the models perfectly executed the flower skirts as the designs lightly flowed with the wind. The idea of the petal, however, is not entirely new to Dior. One of the original 1949 haute couture gowns featured another layered, petal-like look. Jonathan Anderson took this inspiration in the best way possible, creating a piece that references old design while still being entirely new and different. With this being Anderson’s second year as the creative director, the shows are continuously still adored by all.
While fashion week may be over, the excitement still lingers. So what do we do when it ends? Notice what we are drawn to and why. Saint Laurent’s decade ending pieces, Gucci’s bold comeback, Chanel’s past and present coming together, Carolina Herrera’s homage to friendship, and Dior’s intricate petals. Each moment is a different idea of what it means to be seen. No designer was looking to be louder than the others. They were chasing the things that felt right to them, which is what inevitably made things stick.
Maybe that is the real takeaway. Fashion week is a collection of designer tastes, but the most useful thing it provides is a sense of your own. Next time you watch a show, campaign, or see a product, if it leaves you fascinated, ask yourself why. The answer is usually where your individual taste begins.