What You Didn’t See at New York Fashion Week 2025 (Exclusive)

And just like that, another New York Fashion Week has come and gone — and needless to say, our sartorial-obsessed PEOPLE Style team’s hearts are content (and well, our phones are out of storage).

After 60 official scheduled shows spread across Thursday, Sept. 11, through Tuesday, Sept. 16, this season’s NYFW — which despite its name, lasted much longer than a week — might’ve left us sleep deprived, but our eyes (and cameras) didn’t miss a beat!

While Ralph Lauren, Christian Siriano, Tory Burch and more top designers showcased captivating Spring/Summer 2026 collections on the runways located in all five boroughs, the celebrity-centric events that unfolded off the runway were equally as show-stopping (and yes, Love Island-filled).

In addition to seats at shows (where we peeped Oprah Winfrey and Gayle King front row at Siriano and Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra Jonas at Ralph Lauren), PEOPLE had exclusive access inside all the designer-thrown parties and brand-hosted events that took place throughout the sartorial stretch.

There, we caught up with the biggest names in fashion (Sports Illustrated supermodel Camille Kostek at the House of Champions), entertainment (Pamela Anderson at the Pandora Talisman launch) and sports (yes, we’re looking at you, Ellie the Elephant, at InStyle x Delta’s kickoff party).

If comparing our exciting observations and starry conversations to the 20-foot interpretation of the Statue of Liberty displayed at Alice + Olivia Spring 2026 ready-to-wear collection presentation, that list doesn’t even make it three-quarters of the way up the dress!

So if you weren’t at New York Fashion Week yourself and need further explanation than your FYP and Instagram feeds are feeding you, scroll on for a front row seat, courtesy of PEOPLE Style team’s front row view of all the action.

Love Island NYFW Craze Begins!

It’s almost as if the cast of Love Island was plotting in the villa to take over New York Fashion Week as soon as the show wrapped filming — because if it wasn’t obvious, they surely took the city by storm.

Taking place a few days before NYFW officially kicked off, Olandria Carthen hit the red carpet at InStyle x Delta’s Icons off the Runway: A Celebration of Style on Monday, Sept. 8, marking her first appearance in the whirlwind week that would come (including her runway debut for Sergio Hudson!).

Pamela Anderson Reigns Queen of Confidence

The model and actress caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the Pandora Talisman Collection launch event on Monday, Sept. 8, where she shared the secret to her self-confidence.

“I’m trying to find confidence in different ways,” the The Last Showgirl actress said. “I like a bare face and then a lot of fun jewelry. Nothing too fancy [but] something meaningful. So that’s why I like this collection,” she continued of her love for the global jeweler’s new drop of charms, which is inspired by ancient coins.

Front Row Seat at Ralph’s House

PEOPLE had a front row seat at Ralph Lauren’s New York Fashion Week show on Wednesday, Sept. 10, where the iconic designer presented a collection complete with expert tailoring and retro twists. Plus, stars like Oprah Winfrey, Mindy Kaling and Usher shared why they love the brand.

“Timeless,” Winfrey told a pool of media at the show when asked to describe Lauren in one word. “He is the ultimate master of elevating life and lifestyle for people. That’s what I think he’s always represented for me.”

“Polo Ralph Lauren to me means …the American dream like you’ve made it, especially to my dad,” Kaling told PEOPLE at the event. “He’s an Indian immigrant. He pretty much only wears Polo — and that’s something I really inherited from him.”

Usher, too, described Lauren in a way similar to Winfrey. “It’s timeless fashion, elegance and heritage all in one,” he said, adding, “My son is obsessed with Polo. It always comes back. He wants to be what we were in the ’90s.”

Romeo Beckham Debuts ‘Do

Romeo Beckham attended the House of Champion Powered by Sports Illustrated on Thursday, Sept. 11, in a fashion-forward way, sporting a platinum-blonde buzzcut when he hit the red carpet at the athletic brand’s NYFW week event.

The 22-year-old son of Victoria Beckham and David Beckham, who stars in a recent brand campaign, “Champions for Champion,” wore a red jersey with the number 68 on the front of it for the occasion. He mingled with friends and guests until the event wrapped around 9 p.m.

Nicolandria Pack On the PDA

Olandria Carthen and Nic Vansteenberghe didn’t hold back on the PDA during NYFW and made that clear upon their exit from Off-White’s SS26 show on Friday, Sept. 12 (so for anyone questioning whether their romance is real, just watch the clip and think again).

The couple left the show hand-in-hand before cuddling up to one another for photos while surrounded by fans and press. A few days later, Vansteenberghe was spotted in the audience at Sergio Hudson’s show in support of Carthen during her NYFW debut.

Odell Beckham Jr. Parties with Devin Booker

Odell Beckham Jr. hosted a star-studded FRI&NDS bash in the midst of the NYFW and caught up with PEOPLE exclusively at the event held at the Highlight Room at Moxy Lower East Side in Manhattan on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Attendees included Teyana Taylor, Devin Booker, Kordell Beckham, Malik Nabers, Landon Barker, Skyla Sanders, Tim Hardaway Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Carmelo Anthony, to name a few. Austin Millz and DJ Ruckus provided the beats that kept the vibes high from beginning to end.

“Anytime I come back, it’s just a good feeling, so of course, there’s no other place that we would do it but here,” the former New York Giant told PEOPLE exclusively of why he chose to host his latest FRI&NDS gathering during New York Fashion Week.

The invite-only attendees enjoyed an open bar and pizza with panoramic views of the cityscape, while vibing to music that bumped from late night to early morning. Booker and Kuzma hung in their own booth, while Barker and Sanders hung in another surrounded by friends.

Usher Makes a Noteworthy Entrance

Usher was the man of the hour at Ralph’s Club New York on Saturday, Sept. 13, so naturally, he had to make an entrance upon stepping foot onto the red carpet… right? Right.

Ralph Lauren Fragrances hosted an exclusive evening celebrating the superstar, who’s the newly appointed global brand ambassador and the face of Ralph’s Club New York Eau de Parfum.

That explains why he whipped out a bottle of the fragrance to spritz the air before posing for photos! He also spoke with PEOPLE exclusively at the event about his love for the brand.

“I’m really happy to be a part of a legacy, a family heritage. It’s been a lot of fun,” he said, explaining, “Music and fragrance aren’t much different. You play with notes and you make people feel things, right?”

Mindy Kaling with the Snacks Plug

This isn’t the Kaling’s first rodeo (ehem, runway show)! The Emmy-winning actress stepped out for the Tory Burch spring/summer 2026 show in N.Y.C. wearing a black and brown ensemble with a patterned overcoat.

She also accessorized with a coordinating brown bag — but what was inside the bag is not information you’d be privy to knowing if you didn’t ask her. So naturally, PEOPLE Style team figured out a way to find out!

“No matter how nervous you get, there’s candy in your bag — and that’s true tonight,” she revealed. “Sour Patch Kids!”