New York Fashion Week just wrapped up, and as usual, it was a parade of the weird, the wild, and the “who would actually wear that?” While models strutted down runways in outfits that defy gravity, physics, and common sense, I was on a mission to find the one needle in the haystack—the singular trend worth incorporating into your wardrobe. Between the designer theatrics and fashion editor fawning, there’s actually something wearable hiding in plain sight.

Key Takeaways

• Statement red emerged as Fall 2025’s most wearable trend, appearing at Carolina Herrera, Proenza Schouler, and Michael Kors
• You can incorporate this trend with just one piece (a sweater, blazer, or accessory) rather than the head-to-toe runway looks
• Extreme proportions with shoulders wider than doorways should be left on the runway unless you enjoy knocking things over
• The transparent clothing trend continues despite being completely impractical for anyone who isn’t paid to wear it
• Fashion Week’s influence trickles down to affordable retailers within weeks, so you’ll see wearable versions soon

The Trend You’ll Actually Wear: Statement Red

If you’ve been scrolling through NYFW 2025 coverage, you’ve probably noticed one color dominating the runways. Statement red—not just any red, but the boldest, most saturated cherry red imaginable—appeared everywhere from Carolina Herrera’s evening gowns to Proenza Schouler’s daywear to Michael Kors’ tailored suits. This isn’t your subtle burgundy or muted brick; we’re talking full-on fire engine, look-at-me crimson.

What makes this trend actually wearable is its versatility and impact. Unlike some runway trends that require a complete wardrobe overhaul or model proportions, this vibrant hue works for literally everyone—just with different undertones depending on your skin tone. The best part? You need exactly one piece to nail this trend, not the head-to-toe looks designers showcased.

How to Style Statement Red in Real Life

Let’s be clear: nobody needs to walk around looking like a tomato. The key to making this trend work in real life is choosing a single statement piece in this vibrant red—perhaps a sweater, structured blazer, or even just accessories against a neutral palette. I’ve already spotted wearable versions hitting the racks at Zara and Madewell for under $100, which means you don’t need designer connections to get in on this one.

For maximum impact with minimum try-hard energy, pair your red piece with wardrobe staples in denim, camel, or navy. This creates contrast that allows the red to pop without looking costume-like. A red blazer with jeans and a white tee? Instant outfit. A simple red sweater with black pants? Done and done. Even accessories work—red shoes or a bag instantly wake up your neutral fall wardrobe without any commitment to the full runway vision.

Absolutely Not #1: Extreme Proportions

Now let’s talk about what not to wear, starting with the cartoonishly exaggerated proportions that dominated shows like Marc Jacobs and Thom Browne. I’m talking about shoulders so wide they extend a full foot past each side, paired with micro-mini bottoms that create a silhouette no human being naturally possesses. The models literally had to turn sideways to fit through the runway entrance.

The designer justification for these monstrosities usually involves phrases like “exploring the extreme polarities of silhouette to comment on society’s disproportionate values.” Translation: we made something ridiculous and wrapped it in pretentious language. The real-world application? Absolutely none, unless your daily goals include knocking every item off every surface in your home, being unable to sit in cars, or making it impossible for anyone to hug you.

Let’s consider the practicalities. Could you wear this to work? No. To dinner? No. Even to a fancy event? Still no, unless your idea of a good time is standing in one spot all night because sitting would cause the shoulder pads to hit your ears. And all this for the low, low price of approximately $5,000 for a jacket that makes you look like you’re auditioning for a sci-fi movie.

Absolutely Not #2: Transparent Everything

The second trend that deserves our collective eye-roll is the “naked dress” phenomenon that refuses to die. From Tory Burch to Helmut Lang, models walked down runways in completely see-through garments with nothing but strategic tape or tiny underwear beneath. The fashion industry tries to spin this as “vulnerability as power” or “radical transparency,” but let’s call it what it is: clothes that don’t actually clothe you.

The reality gap here is spectacular. What looks “edgy” in a carefully lit, professionally photographed runway setting looks like a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen in real life. Have the designers who create these pieces ever been in an office where the temperature hovers around 72°F? Or sat on public transportation? Or remembered that public indecency laws exist in most places?

The only people who actually wear these outfits are:

• Celebrities with personal heaters following them around
• People with dedicated stylists to ensure nothing accidentally reveals more than intended
• Those with contractual obligations to generate headlines
• Individuals who never have to sit down, bend over, or encounter wind

For the rest of us mere mortals, this trend remains firmly in the “nice try, but no” category. The gap between Instagram and reality has never been wider than when someone attempts to incorporate completely transparent clothing into daily life. Even the most daring fashion enthusiasts I know draw the line at outfits that could get them arrested at the grocery store.

The Fashion Week to Real Life Translation

Here’s what actually happens after fall fashion trends debut on the runway. The most wearable elements get diluted, reinterpreted, and eventually trickle down to stores where normal humans shop. That statement red will appear as everything from lipstick to throw pillows at Target within weeks, while the extreme proportions might influence slightly more structured shoulders on blazers at mainstream retailers.

The democratization of trends means you get to cherry-pick only the elements that actually work for your life. Social media has completely changed how trends disseminate—you don’t need to wait for fashion magazines to tell you what’s “in” anymore. You can watch the shows on Instagram, decide what you like, and ignore the rest.

This is why I focus on finding the one wearable thing each season. The rest is theater, and entertaining theater at that, but not meant for actual implementation in your closet. The cycle of influence works whether or not you buy into the exact runway vision—that cherry red might inspire your next lipstick purchase or the color of your phone case even if you never buy the actual clothes.

Why Any of This Matters (Sort Of)

Fashion Week is mostly a weird, elaborate play put on twice a year for industry insiders and social media consumption. But amid all the spectacle and absurdity, there’s usually at least one good idea that manages to escape the runway and make it into real people’s lives. That’s the part worth paying attention to—the tiny sliver of wearability in an ocean of ridiculousness.

The influence of these shows extends far beyond the actual clothing displayed. That statement red will likely influence everything from the shade of lipstick that becomes popular to the color of home décor items that fill stores this fall. Fashion exists in an ecosystem that eventually touches everyone’s lives, whether you actively follow it or not.

And honestly? It’s completely fine to laugh at the absurdity. Fashion takes itself way too seriously, and the industry could benefit from more people pointing out when the emperor clearly has no clothes (sometimes literally, in the case of that transparent trend). The most stylish people I know have always understood that personal style trumps blindly following trends.

How to Spot the Next Wearable Trend

If you want to become adept at separating the runway wheat from the chaff, here’s my quick guide to identifying potentially wearable trends before they hit mainstream stores. First, look for elements that don’t require completely new proportions or a lifestyle that involves never sitting down. Color trends like statement red are usually the safest bet because they can be incorporated through a single piece.

Second, pay attention to what appears across multiple designers rather than the shock-value pieces that get all the headlines. When several major designers include similar elements—like this season’s statement red—it’s usually a sign that the trend has staying power beyond a single news cycle. The most theatrical looks get the Instagram attention, but the repeated themes predict what will actually show up in stores.

Finally, consider your actual life and wardrobe when evaluating trends. The best personal style comes from incorporating fresh elements that complement what you already own and love. No trend, no matter how prevalent on the runway, is worth adopting if it doesn’t work for your real life, body, or existing wardrobe.

The Bottom Line on NYFW 2025

This season’s runway fashion was, as usual, a mixed bag of the inspiring and the ridiculous. Statement red emerged as the clear winner for wearability, while extreme proportions and transparent everything should stay firmly in the realm of fashion fantasy. The beauty of modern fashion consumption is that you get to decide what works for you.

If you take anything away from this season’s fashion week, let it be permission to trust your own judgment. You don’t need to pretend those unwearable trends make sense just because they appeared on a runway. Grab that perfect red piece if it speaks to you, laugh at the shoulder pads that would make doorways your nemesis, and leave the transparent clothing to those who never have to ride public transportation.

Fashion should be fun, not a stress-inducing obligation to wear things that make no practical sense. The next time you see a headline about the “must-have trends” from Fashion Week, remember that the only true must-have is what makes you feel good when you wear it. Everything else is just an expensive costume for a play you’re not in.

Sources

WWD – NYFW Fall 2025 Trends