2010s Fashion Dominates 2026 New York Fashion Week

Designers revive millennial-core styles from the previous decade on NYFW runways.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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After years of the early 2000s dominating fashion, the industry is now shifting its focus to the 2010s. Designers at New York Fashion Week's Fall 2026 shows presented fresh, modern takes on hallmarks of 2010s style, including skinny jeans, peplum silhouettes, statement necklaces, and more.

Why it matters

The return of 2010s fashion on the NYFW runways signals a broader cultural shift, as millennials and Gen Z consumers seek to revisit and reinterpret the trends they grew up with. This nostalgia-driven trend could have a significant impact on the retail landscape and consumer shopping habits in the coming years.

The details

Brands like Coach, 7 For All Mankind, Tory Burch, Ralph Lauren, and Proenza Schouler all featured 2010s-inspired looks on their NYFW runways. Key trends included skinny jeans, peplum silhouettes, statement necklaces, and cold-shouldered dresses. Stylist Sara Walker notes that "bringing back skinny jeans feels fresh because it's different from what we've been seeing", while Nordstrom fashion director Linda Cui Zhang says the looks represent "an evolution into rich color and romantic twists on performance style" that "freshens the streetwear and athleisure that defined the 2010s".

  • New York Fashion Week's Fall 2026 shows just wrapped up this week.

The players

Coach

An American fashion brand that kicked off NYFW with a skater-themed collection featuring plaid jackets, distressed Bermuda shorts, and beat-up shoes.

7 For All Mankind

A denim brand that was popular during the 2010s and presented a "2011 fever dream" on the NYFW runway, with models wearing embellished denim jackets, club dresses, skinny jeans, and mini skirts.

Sara Walker

A stylist and fashion consultant who says "bringing back skinny jeans feels fresh because it's different from what we've been seeing".

Linda Cui Zhang

The fashion director at Nordstrom, who says the 2010s-inspired looks represent "an evolution into rich color and romantic twists on performance style" that "freshens the streetwear and athleisure that defined the 2010s".

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What they’re saying

“Bringing back skinny jeans feels fresh because it's different from what we've been seeing.”

— Sara Walker, Stylist and fashion consultant

“The look is an evolution into rich color and romantic twists on performance style that freshens the streetwear and athleisure that defined the 2010s.”

— Linda Cui Zhang, Fashion director, Nordstrom

The takeaway

The return of 2010s fashion on the NYFW runways signals a broader cultural shift, as millennials and Gen Z consumers seek to revisit and reinterpret the trends they grew up with. This nostalgia-driven trend could have a significant impact on the retail landscape and consumer shopping habits in the coming years.