The Sporty Trend Lives On At The NYFW SS26 Runways

While some collections made slight nods to sports via rugby-inspired polos paired with knee-high Pilates socks (Christian Cowan) or striped leotards and neon netting (Diotima), others waved their pom poms (figuratively and literally). Gabe Gordon presented a collection that “suggests that desire is not simply expressed through bodies, but through impact,” according to its show notes. And the impact in question clearly includes a tackling metaphor as a few looks featured shrug-esque tops that looked both like football shoulder pads and actual footballs. The “get your goat on” graphic dress also speaks for itself.

Area’s new creative director, Nicholas Aburn, made his debut with splashy and joyful designs. The spring collection featured tinsel pom pom purses (that quickly went viral) as well as sequined dresses made from deconstructed basketball jerseys from the Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers, and more.

Meanwhile, Kate Barton’s collection was the first to catch my eye in person, thanks to a collared long-sleeve jersey… paired with a bubble skirt. The show notes read: “Retro athletic references are interwoven with eveningwear codes, underscoring Barton’s fresh instinct for balancing the sportive with the feminine, the nostalgic with the new.”

And the sport jersey influence didn’t end there. After taking three years off from NYFW, Dauphinette re-entered the spotlight with a hauntingly beautiful collection. But of course, the style that shined for me was a seashell-covered polo top with the number 10 on the back (typically reserved for the best of the best soccer players, like Lionel Messi).