This year’s New York Fashion Week boldly invites guests into the immense triumphs and challenges of the world’s premier fashion houses with theatrical encounters and boundary-breaking collaborations. Here, Whitewall brings you front and center at experiential shows by MONSE, Tanner Fletcher, Area, and More.
MONSE’s Love Letter to American Sportswear
Photo by Marcelo Soubhia/FIRSTVIEW, courtesy of Monse.
Photo by Marcelo Soubhia/FIRSTVIEW, courtesy of Monse.
MONSE ushered in a fantastical new era of American sportswear with the Spring/Summer 2025 runway collection, blissfully paying homage to our never ending love affair with soap operas and the cinema with tender nuances. A bevy of khaki menswear gems were presented in deconstructed fashion, embellished with the purity and drama of white lace. Polo knitwear made a resurgence in soft, translucent fabrics—at times shimmering with sequins—in a heart-throbbing metallic and pastel palette. Ankle-grazing gown iterations in clean stripes of pink, yellow, and blue gave way to cropped, backless numbers as a flirtatious surprise. Scenes for the office were dressed up in clever, classic, style, with dark denim and double sleeves, necklines, and hems bringing a spirited nonchalance. An eye-catching collaboration with artist Andee Collard produced an exquisite play between the digital and the organic, and entrancing floral prints in form of an intarsia knitted sweater, as well as an evening gown adorned with sequins and lace, had our imagination soaring.
Tanner Fletcher Raises the Curtain on “The Artists Dilemma”
Enigmatically titled “The Artists Dilemma,” Tanner Fletcher’s innovative Spring/Summer 2025 collection spoke to the fork in the road when it comes to selecting a career in the arts and the immense challenges of being a new business owner. Staged as a surreal art gallery, the maison beckoned guests through 30 encounters illuminating these predicaments with notable models such as Vienna Skye, Evelyn Wu, Romilly Newman, and Peter Demas donning the brand’s latest, spectacular creations. A specially featured scene, spearheaded by Jeanette Getrost, displayed a meticulously hand-painted jet black dress, while two highlighted garments, The Artist’s Dilemma Shirt and The Artist’s Dilemma Ball Gown stood out by way of splendidly exposed tulle, a diverse range of buttons, imperfect ruffles, and more. Masterful technique impressed on the catwalk, such as the drop waist silhouette in the Connie Dress, and the charming cabbage rose print or black and white toile washing over larger-than-life petticoats and ball gowns.
Jason Wu and Chinese artist Tong Yang-Tze Preserve a Moment in Time
Courtesy of Jason Wu.
Courtesy of Jason Wu.
A poetic partnership with iconic Chinese artist Tong Yang-Tze was revealed at Jason Wu’s Spring 2025 runway presentation, and a softly sensual collection recalling the luminary’s dreamlike calligraphy unfolded. Light as air dresses, artistic suiting, and edgy jackets, maxi skirts, and trousers conjured the artist’s boundary-breaking practice, fearlessly experimenting with dimensions and paying respect to the beauty of her culture. A captivating runway centerpiece designed with the keen eye of Elise Co, a groundbreaking designer and technologist at Aeolab and ArtCenter College of Design, alongside artist Ben Borden, sparked dialogue on the limitless future of art, architecture, and technology.
“It is an extraordinary honor to be able to partner with Ms. Tong, who I greatly admire and has been an inspiration for me throughout my creative journey,” said Wu. “To translate the spirit of her work into a collection that not only embodies my definition of identity and our shared heritage, is a personal milestone. The central theme of the collection is timelessness that exemplifies fashion’s vital role in connecting the dots between heritage, contemporary culture, and craft. I have always championed the notion of fashion being more than clothes—it is about preserving a moment in time in a form of creative artistry.”
Tibi’s Refreshing, “Almost Reckless” Universe for Spring 2025
Photo by Daniele Oberrauch/Gorunway, courtesy of Tibi.
Photo by Daniiele Oberrauch/Gorunway, courtesy of Tibi.
Amy Smilovic, Creative Director and Founder of Tibi, invited guests to dip into a refreshing, “Almost Reckless” universe for Spring 2025. When an intimate relationship with one’s own personal style has been cultivated, a thrilling adventure into the unknown may bloom, unveiling graceful new facets of mind, body, and soul. With rich, historical allusions and proficient couture embellishments, Tibi’s latest presentation gallantly utilized fresh techniques and materials to offer parallel waves of grandeur and simplicity. Fluid trousers and elongated skirts fit low and easily at the hips—smudged with a chic, nomad-style edge. Feather light gauchos enhanced by harmonious twists evoked a masculine meets feminine elegance, while alluring instances of rich bio twill and tropical wool swathed models in breathable warmth for a fragrant springtime storm. Balloon-like volumes in cosmic dresses, momentous suiting, and crispy separates in soothing, natural shades had us eager to embark on the blissfully undiscovered.
Area’s Visionary 10th Anniversary Catwalk Unfolds at Spring Studios
Courtesy of AREA.
Courtesy of AREA.
Within Spring Studios’ buzzing hub of New York Fashion Week, AREA celebrated its tremendous 10th anniversary with a spellbinding Fall/Winter 2024 catwalk. Flawlessly blurring the lines between tradition and eccentricity has always been the beating heart of the avant-garde maison, and the brand’s latest show was an incandescent example. A visionary study in identity and uniforms, taking notes from decades of daring club kids and punks, culminated in garments adorned with savage hardware. Inspired by the individuality of name plates, a parade of ingenious garments were amplified with sculptural brass plates and even defiant shields for the visage. Fingerprints were deftly woven into jacquard fabrics—echoing the charm of animal prints—breathing new life into jackets with capes, belted gowns, and glossy t-shirts. Unveiled together with Tinder, the “Bans Off Our Bodies” T-shirt pridefully benefits the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.
“Tinder stands firmly in support of reproductive freedom,” said Melissa Hobley, Tinder’s CMO. “Through our partnership with AREA on the Bans Off Our Bodies shirts, we’re using fashion as a powerful vehicle to amplify this crucial message at New York Fashion Week, standing up for this fundamental right that directly shapes our futures, our relationships, and the way we date.”
