Unbridled spirit and creativity were front and center at the Christian Cowan Fall/Winter 2025 runway, featuring a tribute to Cowan’s longtime muse Abbie. Cowan wanted to embody her personality into the collection, telling a story of her larger-than-life looks and support for the atelier, and the childlike wonder of falling in love with fashion. The emotional and poignant collection featured thirty looks that were each unique yet complimentary, harkening back to the personal aspect of design and inspiration. 

Often described as New York high glamour, Cowan seamlessly blended extravagance with playfulness, highlighting luminescent colors and variety in texture. Notable looks that capture the essence of joy in creativity include a bubblegum-inspired dress and multiple pieces with overarching feathers. The construction of the collection was given great detail, with silhouettes being unconventional and bold, yet still remaining true to Cowan’s DNA in must-have party dresses. 

Most importantly, this Fall/Winter collection was fun, with the runway ambiance being electric and full of personality. During the runway walkthrough, Cowan himself described the model walks to have an element of “glitching”-- being all about legs and natural glam. He told one model not to “overdo being a fabulous woman”, as this runway was all about feeling comfortable, especially with motions and the pieces. Another focus of Cowan’s included the experience of living in a chaotic, constantly-changing world. With attention spans constantly shifting and hectic lifestyles, Cowan draws attention to the clash of influence in the various small details of the pieces, whether it be contrasting colors or fabrics. 

The runway presentation itself was vibrant, creating an ambiance with oldies music switching to Ethel Cain: sending a message of how Cowan’s creativity jumps across time and space. The makeup and hair complimented this and the looks, with model wigs reminiscent of the ‘Mars Attacks’ iconic cinema blueprint. Cowan additionally partnered with DSW for this collection, incorporating the footwear into six looks. However, this show went far beyond commercialism, with Cowan focusing on his own creative expression versus purely retail-centric looks. Combined with the dramatic New York skyline view and star-studded guest list, this show was sheer enjoyment of fashion at its purest form. 

Discover the vibrant and eclectic collection full of unexpected shapes and walks below, courtesy of runway photographer Audrey Gallagher who takes us both backstage and to the runway riser for No Alibi Magazine at this New York Fashion Week season.