To kick off NYFW, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on what queer designers have been able to accomplish this past year. Bringing an unapologetic sense of authenticity to the industry, here are our favorite designs from fashion’s hottest designers.
Jonathan Anderson
From JW Anderson’s Spring/Summer 2025 Womenswear Collection, Jonathan Anderson utilized themes of androgyny and playfulness, which define the label. His Rounded Blouson Jacket is a marriage of leather detailing and a structured navy polyester jacket. The jacket makes a subtle commentary on gender norms, with its boxy silhouette and atypical belt placement. It perfectly embodies the surrealist themes of Anderson’s runway show.
Austin Alegria
Texas-based designer Austin Alegria debuted a gorgeous collection last fall at DapperQ X Brooklyn Museum’s fashion show, highlighting queer designers and models. Alegria described the collection as having an underwater, decaying vibe, and worked with his partner, Christopher Collins, to create the looks. Our favorite outfit was a majestic flowing hooded dress with a high slit paired with gloves. Alegria highlighted the whimsy of queer art, using LGBTQIA+ models to show off his collection.
LaQuan Smith
Laquan Smith has been at the forefront of womenswear these past few years, becoming a favorite designer amongst the stars. Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and countless others have adorned Smith’s designs on and off the red carpet. This year, Laquan Smith designed actress Halle Berry’s Met Gala look. Her dress was sheer, striped, sequined, and daring, turning heads and embodying the theme of tailoring black style. Paired with a perfectly tailored black jacket and cap, Laquan Smith created a look that perfectly embodied the theme for the 2025 Met Gala. The look was not the only one worn at the event, as Smith also dressed singer Ciara. In an interview with E! News, Smith revealed that the look took 1400 hours to create.
Harris Reed
Harris Reed began making headlines after dressing British household names like Florence Pugh and Harry Styles. Reed now serves as Nina Ricci’s creative director while running his brand. The designer has always approached his designs with gender fluidity in mind, not letting any societal construct dull the light and magic he creates. For his Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, Reed utilized gold accents and pleasing art aesthetics to create an unforgettable season. The queer designer’s bold and daring shapes turned his fashions into true works of art, encouraging viewers to explore their deepest curiosities and rebel against today’s norms.
Zoe Grinfeld
Alongside Austin Alegria, Zoe Grinfeld debuted her “Working Through It” Collection in last fall’s DapperQ X Brooklyn Museum fashion show. Grinfeld had started thinking about her collection four years prior, enlisting the help of student interns and her local community to bring the campy looks to life. Converse sponsored the collection, making sure Grinfeld’s models were in entirely cohesive office supply-inspired looks.
Fashion week is the time to appreciate the works of designers that continue to revolutionize the industry. Much of the trends and styles that exist today only exist thanks to contributions made by the queer community. What this year’s queer designers were able to bring to the table will inspire the next generation of artists and entrepreneurs looking to dominate the fashion industry. By taking the time to appreciate the work done by the LGBTQIA+, we continue to hold the door open for many new designers and trailblazers in the future.
XOXO,
Your Fashion Bestie
