Fashion Designers Embrace Unique Spaces for NYFW Presentations

From mid-century furniture to historic buildings, designers are using their venues as co-stars this season.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

For this year's New York Fashion Week, designers like Maria McManus, Ralph Lauren, Carolina Herrera, and Khaite are embracing unique and visually striking venues to showcase their latest collections. Rather than traditional runway shows, these designers are using the spaces themselves as part of the overall presentation, incorporating vintage furniture, custom murals, and architectural backdrops to complement their designs.

Why it matters

By treating their NYFW venues as an integral part of the fashion experience, these designers are elevating the role of the physical space and using it to tell a more holistic story about their brands and collections. This trend reflects a broader shift in the fashion industry towards more immersive, experiential presentations that engage the audience on multiple sensory levels.

The details

Maria McManus showcased her collection at Magen H Gallery, where she draped her clothes against a backdrop of mid-century French furniture pieces. Ralph Lauren took over a historic Beaux-Arts clock tower in Tribeca, filling the space with vintage furnishings and hand-painted murals. Carolina Herrera's creative director Wes Gordon commissioned artist Sarah Oliphant to paint colorful murals that matched the collection's palette, and also cast female creatives as models. Khaite's Catherine Holstein transformed the Park Avenue Armory with a 60-foot LED screen display. Cult Gaia made its NYFW debut at the landmarked Beaux-Arts One Hanson Place tower in Brooklyn.

  • New York Fashion Week took place in February 2026.

The players

Maria McManus

A Dublin-born, New York-based fashion designer who showcased her collection at Magen H Gallery during New York Fashion Week.

Ralph Lauren

A renowned American fashion designer who took over a historic Beaux-Arts clock tower in Tribeca for his NYFW presentation.

Wes Gordon

The creative director of Carolina Herrera who commissioned artist Sarah Oliphant to paint colorful murals as the backdrop for the brand's NYFW runway show.

Catherine Holstein

The founder and creative director of the Khaite fashion label, who transformed the Park Avenue Armory for her NYFW presentation.

Cult Gaia

A fashion brand that made its NYFW debut at the landmarked Beaux-Arts One Hanson Place tower in Brooklyn.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Draping her clothes against the mid-century French pieces, McManus let the furniture share the spotlight. The setting wasn't an accident—McManus has spent years making the case that a piece's materials matter just as much as how it looks, and designers like Chapo and Prouvé would agree.”

— Maria McManus (elledecor.com)

The takeaway

This NYFW season, top designers are embracing unique and visually striking venues as an integral part of their fashion presentations, using the spaces themselves to complement and enhance their collections. This trend reflects a broader shift towards more immersive, experiential fashion shows that engage the audience on multiple levels.