The runways were back and so were people around it, albeit most in masks (due to the local non-compulsory mask mandate) as New York City celebrated fashion’ rebirth with an optimistic forecast for spring/summer 2022. Gorgeous jewel tones, big silhouettes, separates and inspiration drawn from NYC to Italy. Snapshots:

1. Tom Ford

“Photogenic clothes today by their very nature mean that they are not at all timid. My clothes this season are simple in cut but not in impact,” was designer Tom Ford’s description of the clothes he presented on the runway. Glitzy, glam and sparkly on simple silhouettes presented his view of what spring/summer 2022 could be like for us. Dress up and show up in style, the collection seemed to say.

2. Coach

Coach’s Stuart Vevers designed a collection as a response to our times that loves the paradox of dressing up in athleisure seriously. Inspired by the label’s first designer Bonnie Cashin, the collection also expressed a lot of optimism in the form of colours. Easy separates, long T-shirts, light layers and even unmatched pantsuits were spotted in the collection.

3. Brandon Maxwell

The designer returned to the runway with his usual set of bright colours, but also brought prints alongside. The collection was more toned down than his usual ones that show eveningwear as the hero. In this collection, we saw more casual styles with midi dresses and tunics.

4. Moschino

The label showcased a fun collection featuring eveningwear with children-inspired prints and supermodels like Gigi Hadid and Irina Shayk walking down with quirky baby accessories — and even a feeding bottle that Gigi bit into.

Prabal Gurung

5. Gabriela Hearst

“Being able to create beautiful pieces that are desirable and at the same time that empower others is probably one of the most satisfying personal experiences,” said the designer in her press dossier for the collection. Inspired by Hester Diamond, the designs saw a lot of colourful knits on easy, breezy silhouettes.

6. Prabal Gurung

“The collection reimagines canonical ideas of nationality, gender, and beauty through my lens of unabashed optimism and unadulterated hope. America has always been a woman — but she has not always been treated beautifully. What does it mean to be the most essential person in this country? What is feminine? What is American? And who gets to be it all — or none of it?” — Prabal Gurung’s press notes read. The inspiration for his collection was drawn from Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion and culture critic Robin Givhan as he celebrated the woman form with his designs that saw floral, spring motifs on both simple and exaggerated silhouettes

7. Christian Siriano

The designer infused inspiration from his Italian grandmother with dramatic silhouettes, rich colours and the setting of the Gotham Hall in New York City for his showcase. Sharp silk jackets, pantsuits and dresses made up the collection.

8. Michael Kors

Taking a leaf out of “urban romance”, the designer, yet again, wrote a love letter to his city of love — New York. The celebration of rebirth and the return to some semblance of normalcy saw a lot of solid colours, light cardigans, pencil skirts and short suits in signature Michael Kors sharp tailoring.