NYFW 2025: Anna Sui’s Vintage Majesty & Altuzarra’s Gothic Elegance

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is synonymous with innovation and theatrical storytelling, and the Fall/Winter 2025 collections presented on February 8th were no exception. Two designers in particular—Anna Sui and Joseph Altuzarra—delivered striking, emotionally rich narratives, celebrating both vintage aristocratic glamour and gothic romanticism.

While Sui’s collection embraced heiress-inspired opulence, Altuzarra transported his audience to a windswept literary dreamscape, evoking the wild passion of Wuthering Heights. Here’s a closer look at the standout moments from these unforgettable runway presentations.

Anna Sui: A Maximalist Heirloom Fantasy

Presenting at the National Arts Club in Gramercy Park, Anna Sui transported her audience into a world of aristocratic nostalgia and playful grandeur. Her Fall/Winter 2025 collection paid homage to iconic socialites—Barbara Hutton, Doris Duke, and Peggy Guggenheim—women known for their eccentric yet luxurious style.

The Collection

Sui’s latest designs celebrated vintage maximalism, blending European sophistication with downtown irreverence. Key pieces included:
– Tartan hacking jackets, complemented by matching plaid riding boots
– Tweed skirt suits, elevated with bold leopard-print blouses
– Emerald jacquard knits, layered with Venetian striped shirts
– Faux-mink fur coats in electrifying magenta and imperial purple

One of the collection’s highlights was Sui’s collaboration with John Fluevog, unveiling triple-hued sneakers that added a modern, unexpected contrast to her period-inspired ensembles. The designer also partnered with Mondottica for oversized Peggy Guggenheim-style cat-eye sunglasses, a tribute to the avant-garde art patron.

The Atmosphere

A sense of refined nostalgia filled the venue, amplified by a soundtrack featuring Rita Hayworth’s “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.” Every detail underscored Sui’s signature whimsical sophistication, and her show concluded to an enthusiastic standing ovation, proving that timeless glamour is here to stay.

Joseph Altuzarra: Gothic Romance in Motion

In stark contrast, Joseph Altuzarra transformed the Woolworth Building into a brooding, windswept dreamscape, drawing inspiration from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. His Fall/Winter 2025 collection channeled the novel’s moody landscapes and haunting romance, striking a delicate balance between wild chaos and refined elegance.

The Collection

Photo credit: Courtesy of Altuzarra

Altuzarra’s designs encapsulated both functionality and poetic melancholy, featuring:
– Double-faced cashmere wrap coats, offering protection against the cold
– Chunky alpine-knit sweaters, tucked into sleek jodhpur-style trousers
– Shearling capes and hooded greatcoats, exuding gothic grandeur
– Chiffon and satin dresses, adorned with organic prints of fallen leaves and smudged lipstick stains

Among the standout accessories were the fringed Origami Bag and the woven suede-and-straw Knot-Basket tote, blending natural textures with structured craftsmanship.

The Experience

Each guest received a copy of Wuthering Heights, immediately immersing them in Altuzarra’s windswept vision. Coupled with the gothic gargoyle-adorned setting of the Woolworth Building, the scene evoked a beautifully haunting romance between fashion and literature.

Final Thoughts: Two Worlds, One Passion for Storytelling

Though vastly different in aesthetics, Sui and Altuzarra delivered awe-inspiring collections rooted in deeply emotional storytelling. Sui’s vision was bold, vintage, and vibrant, celebrating a world of glamorous bohemians, while Altuzarra’s designs embraced melancholic romance and winter’s poetic strength.

Both collections revealed that fashion is more than just clothing—it is a living, breathing narrative. As NYFW proved yet again, style is most powerful when it tells a story.

So, which world speaks to you? Are you drawn to the whimsical maximalism of an heiress’ wardrobe, or does Wuthering Heights-inspired gothic romance steal your heart? Let us know in the comments!