Visual Editor: Ruben Ramos
Adachi Pimentel, @adachiphoto
It was the Philadelphia-based, New York–born photographer Adachi’s birthday on Afropunk’s first day, which in some ways contributed to her slightly holographic, breezy look. “I think that subconsciously I wanted to start my year off light,” she says. “I wanted to wear light colors and feel light.”
Jamar Robinson, @its_jamar; Lamar Dobbins, @dospapis; and Julian Gonzalez, @jgonzoo
These three teenaged skaters went against the grain a bit by eschewing the festival’s unofficial dress code that tends towards extravagance. As Lamar Dobbins explains, “It’s Afropunk so no one’s really going to judge what you’re wearing. I just put on regular attire, what I wear every day.”
Grace
Grace traveled all the way from the U.K. for the Brooklyn edition of Afropunk, and she described her chic look as “an amalgamation of everything I like,” from some ’70s influences to Afro-inspired makeup, all topped off with a nod to Paris in her red beret. She says that Afropunk’s focus on community is more important now than it has ever been before, as “there’s a wider movement of defiance almost and just not accepting what we’re told is the norm,” acknowledging that the only antidote is, “inclusion in every sense.”
Jeramiah Irwin, @jerairwin
The Jersey City–based designer attended Afropunk for the first time last year, and the festival’s accepting ethos made him come back again this year. “I love festivals in general, but this one to me is so different. Everyone is so friendly. There’s no judgment,” he says. “It’s really true what they say—the no sexism, no homophobia here.” And given the opportunity to fully express himself, Jeremiah chose a denim corset and ripped jeans that were inspired by the pop-country music he’s been listening to. Says Irwin, “I was going to wear a cowboy hat, but I’m saving that for later.”
Discover the night-out trends slated to take over chic evenings — and the attention of buyers alike.
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NEW YORK NIGHTS
Explore the trends that are destined for a Night Out at the February edition of COTERIE New York. To fete the FW25/26 season, we’ve curated four glamorous trends ready to steal the limelight at cocktail bars, nightclubs, fabulous parties, and more. You’ll discover Classic Intrigue from COTERIE New York’s parent brand MMGNET’s women’s advanced contemporary buyer’s guide — in addition to Ready-for-Anything Styles, Saturated Palettes, and Scene-Stealing Textures. Read on to learn more about the inspiration behind these essential trends.
CLASSIC INTRIGUE
As described in MMGNET’s FW25/26 Women’s Advanced Contemporary Buyer’s Guide, Classic Intrigue combines the future and the past with a dose of the surreal to stunning effect. Luxurious, decorative details and unforgettable silhouettes take center stage. In fact, “The most important night-out stones are baroque pearls, rock crystals, and rubies — in addition to statement clip-on earrings, a lot of gold metal, and layering charms,” says Hassan Bounkit, owner and designer of the jewelry and accessories brand Bounkit.
In eveningwear apparel, “Bold silhouettes, such as oversized blazers and dramatic sleeves, make a statement, while metallic accents in dresses and accessories catch the light and add glamour. Asymmetry, with designs featuring asymmetric hemlines or one-shoulder styles, creates an edgy yet elegant vibe. Polka dots are also making a comeback, adding a playful element to evening wear,” add Marze co-founders Deniz and Zeynep Kardesler.
Classic Intrigue will play a starring role at Jewel Badgley Mischka too. “The trends we focused on for FW25/26 are all about intriguing hardware that adds a dash of personality, luxurious textures, and silhouettes that redefine style. We aim to create dresses that define timeless glamour and create confidence and passion in the women who wear them,” shares Badgley Mischka’s wholesale team.
“FW25/26 will emphasize leopard in outerwear, shoes, and even denim. Statement outerwear will be a key look for the season with the comeback of the faux fur jacket and wool coats with oversized collars,” says Rent The Runway buyer Megan Hannigan. “Rental allows shoppers to experiment. It's a much lower risk because you are trying before you buy. I think it opens up the realm of novelty and fun. It feels less risky to experiment with trends because you can rent, style an outfit, and then, if needed, send it back,” Hannigan explains.
As for the colors of FW25/26, expect richer, darker colors that just scream fabulous, nighttime events. Expect plenty of deeper jewel tones and moodier hues. “For colors, we expect to see a continued dominance of deep browns, burgundies, and reds — tones that create sensual, opulent evening looks. These will be complemented by vibrant accents like marigold, electric blues, and coral, which inject energy and fun into fall, providing a striking contrast and uplifting the season’s mood and keeping true to our Latin Heritage,” say Wakeham and Bolivar. Hannigan from Rent The Runway predicts more full-tonal looks for nights out wearing FW25/26, including “all-white winter looks, shades of brown (mocha mousse) from head to toe, and denim on denim with a fun heel”.
“I am in love with the color trends for FW25/26,” Perales says. “The richness of the Cherry Laquer color is the perfect tone for a night-out look, while Neon Flare adds a playful pop of color. Whether it's a handbag or heels, pairing these with a blazer, crisp white button-down, and your favorite pair of jeans will elevate your look.”
From left to right: ACCESS FASHION; BOUNKIT; SUNCOO
READY-FOR ANYTHING STYLES
From accessories that do double duty to styles that transition seamlessly from day to night, FW25/26’s night-out looks are ready to turn up the glam at any moment. It points to an especially festive and celebratory season to come. “When it comes to accessories, convertibility continues to lead the way. Large statement earrings are reimagined to offer multiple styling options, such as transitioning from dramatic drops to sleek studs, perfect for moving from evening to daytime looks. Sparkly, hand-beaded clutches remain a quintessential addition, combining practicality with glamour. The integration of vintage-inspired details, like heirloom-inspired designs, adds a timeless element to accessories while maintaining a modern edge,” say Mestiza co-founders Alessandra Perez-Rubio and Louisa Rechter Takacs.”
“For us, layering and versatility will be at the core of evening wear this season. With the changing climate patterns caused by global warming, evening looks need to be adaptable, offering pieces that work seamlessly across different temperatures and occasions,” explain De Loreta co-founders Ana Wakeham and Nichole Bolivar. “We’ve designed light alpaca knits, soft jerseys, and cotton skirts—pieces that can easily be dressed up with accessories or layered for warmth without sacrificing style. Our printed woven fabrics, paired with more wintery fabrics, offer an edgy yet refined aesthetic, perfect for a night out that demands both style and comfort.”
Shoppers also have a strong desire to get more out of their purchases in FW25/26. “When it comes to shopping for a night out, I feel the change I am seeing in consumers is that they are looking for pieces that not only reflect current fashion trends but are also practical, versatile, and expressive. It is all about functional fashion now. They are making sure it can live in their daily wardrobe,” explains Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World® retail buying manager, Michelle Perales.
Discover the glitz and glam of FW25/26’s night-out fashion trends and source the designs your shoppers will love at COTERIE New York. Join us
February 18-20, 2025.
Discover more FW25/26 trends during MMGNET's FW25/26 Womend Trends Digital Session.
Jamar Robinson, @its_jamar; Lamar Dobbins, @dospapis; and Julian Gonzalez, @jgonzoo
These three teenaged skaters went against the grain a bit by eschewing the festival’s unofficial dress code that tends towards extravagance. As Lamar Dobbins explains, “It’s Afropunk so no one’s really going to judge what you’re wearing. I just put on regular attire, what I wear every day.”
From left to right: JEWEL BADGLEY MISCHKA; DOUX AMOUR; DE LORETA
SATURATED PALETTES
SCENE STEALING TEXTURES
Part of the glamour of FW25/26 is how textures will come to the forefront. They’ll steal the show on their own and combine to create magical motifs, head-turning effects, and just the right aesthetics to elevate any sophisticated ambience. Helsi founder Franklin Morales points to two important textural movements for FW25/26 — novelty fabrics and details and metallic shine. For novelty, he says, “Unexpected fabric treatments, metallic threading, and unique fabric manipulation techniques add a sense of uniqueness and modernity to classic eveningwear, perfectly complementing Helsi’s focus on offering elevated, statement-making designs for the confident, fashion-forward woman.” As for metallic shine, Morales says, “Luminous fabrics like liquid metallics, dimensional sequins, and textured lurex are integral to Helsi’s DNA for Fall/ Winter collections. These elements create a captivating balance between bold, modern aesthetics and the enduring appeal of timeless elegance.” The Kardeslers also say the season will see textures combined to equate to so much more. “Essential trends for evening and night-out looks in FW25/26 include layered textures that combine different fabrics like velvet, silk, and leather for added depth and dimension,” they explain.
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From left to right: MESTIZA; VEROSENSO; HELSI
Published February 2025
From left to right: MARZE; GIZIA
Image by GIZIA
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