By Hanna Brick

At Calvin Klein’s latest New York Fashion Week presentation, Veronica Leoni continued her careful excavation of the brand’s origins, looking back to the late 1970s and early 1980s, when the house first defined its aesthetic vocabulary. For her third runway outing, the designer immersed herself in that foundational period, studying the visual language that established the label as both a cultural icon and a master of simplicity.

Calvin Klein was as much an image architect as he was a couturier, building a brand that extended far beyond ready-to-wear. Each category carried his name and a distinct point of view. Stepping into that space has not been entirely seamless for Leoni. Where the founder’s instinct was reduction, she has often leaned toward conceptual layering. Instead of stripping garments to their essence, she has shown an inclination to build complexity through construction and styling.

This season, however, there were signs of alignment. A reworked pair of 1970s jeans, finished with a leather back patch bearing a cursive logo, emerged as a key proposition. In any successful fashion ecosystem, daily essentials that are instantly recognizable yet simple form the backbone of a brand. The cursive logo reappeared on a supple leather bomber layered over a sharply cut black satin tuxedo, demonstrating Leoni’s growing authority as a tailor. The look incredibly polished.

Outerwear, particularly the trench, became a subtle throughline of the collection, a reminder of Calvin Klein’s long-standing relationship with utilitarian silhouettes elevated through precision. One of the images captured by a Marist student in attendance at NYFW, Benson Delaney - who attended Romeo Hunte’s show - emphasizes the trend of the trench and layering. The layering within the look reflects the very dialogue Leoni has been navigating. Through Delaney’s lens, that balance feels immediate and translates onto the runway.

Among those in attendance at NYFW was Marist student Sara Sarioglu, who had the opportunity to witness some of the shows firsthand. “My time at fashion week was so much fun. I got to see designers showcase their collections, speak with people in the fashion industry, and help put together an amazing after-party event. I hope to be able to go again in the future.”

For Marist students, experiences like this bridge classroom study with industry immersion. Images taken at these shows by Marist students allow us to get even closer to the industry and discover our passions. With student photographers contributing firsthand coverage, including Delaney’s images, Marist’s presence at New York Fashion Week extends beyond attendance. It becomes participation. Being there offered a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the pace, precision, and creativity that define the industry at its highest level, while underscoring how emerging voices from Marist are beginning to document and shape the fashion conversation themselves.

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