Classics, But Cooler: Tory Burch Rewrites the Fashion Favorites
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- 4 min read
Tory Burch’s Fall 2026 collection revolved around one standout idea: "Classics never go out of style!" And to complement her designs, she chose a setting that felt just as timeless as her clothes, Breuer’s iconic Madison Avenue building, now Sotheby’s global headquarters. It perfectly matched the mood of the collection. After all, classic space perfectly syncs with classic inspiration.
On Wednesday night, in front of a guest list that included A-listers like Pamela Anderson, Tessa Thompson, Amanda Seyfried and Mary Beth Barone, Burch unveiled a fall lineup rooted in her usual style inspiration: her father’s effortless style and the elegance of Bunny Mellon. It was a night of familiar, evergreen silhouettes that felt refined, wearable, and quietly luxurious. Once again, she proved that her designs were here to outlive the trends, not chase them.
Like many designers this season, Tory Burch asked herself one simple but powerful question -- what actually lasts? Well, she answered it through her timeless designs, drawing inspiration from her father’s old corduroy pants.
She went back to her dad’s practical trousers and reimagined them through her own fashion-tinted glasses. The result? We got the slouchy wide-wale corduroys that showed up more than once in the fall lineup, styled with crewneck knits and round-collar shirts, sleeves casually pushed up to elbows. Grounded and refreshing, it had the ‘get things done’ energy.
Bunny Mellon and Burch’s father, Lt. Mr. Robinson, became the quiet starting point for the whole collection of classic influences seen through a very modern lens. Instead of entirely reinventing the wheel, Burch took familiar archetypes and gave them a fresh update. It was the same sharp tailoring, strong outerwear and timeless cardigans elevated with richer fabrics, bolder color and latest proportions.
By scaling up antique-inspired dresses, overcoats and woven jackets to feel bigger, bolder and more current, she kept things lively through her color story. Tangerine, olive green and butter yellow all added warmth to an otherwise neutral base. The details were even better, like the gilded badla embroidery delicately hand-done by Indian artisans, adding depth without losing that classic ease.
And then came the dresses! Silky peplums, soft ruffles and gentle ruching that gave a subtle nod to the ’80s revival everyone seems to be craving right now. Feminine, grounded, wearable and very now.
During the preview, Burch shared that she’d been reflecting on how clothes from the past keep getting reimagined over time and how true style manages to endure, even when the world feels uncertain. “What I wanted to do is to take these classic ideas and spin them, twist them and move them in a different, more individual idea and direction.” She states this while pointing to a pair of her father’s own corduroy pants reimagined in warm apricot and saffron tones, styled with super-soft, brushed Shetland wool sweaters layered over sweet Peter Pan–collared shirts. It had a whole new vibe with the same old charm.
Burch also revealed that about a decade ago, she bought and restored Bunny Mellon’s house in Antigua. While exploring it, she found knotted cushions tucked away in the basement, which would later become a motif for the whole season. You could see it everywhere! In the new Bunny Knot quilted bags, the nubby raffia-woven chunky navy knits and even in the oversized shoe hardware. This gave a slightly pilgrim-style twist, something Burch said she’d always wanted to try.
Embellishment played a big role, too. Shoes shimmered with subtle beaded touches, leaning into what feels like NYFW’s current “trinket era.” The brand’s love for statement details kept showing up in the form of funky shoes, bold jewelry, leather-wrapped shell earrings, geometric belts and quirky sardine pins that added a playful, slightly offbeat charm to the lineup.
Decorative, yes, but never excessive. Every classic came alive as a soft, nostalgic vibe breathed through them. “Classics shaped by history and utility, made personal through our own stories and experiences -- where true style originates,” said the designer backstage.
Throughout the collection, a question Burch kept answering was why do some clothes never go out of style. Her classics like corduroy trousers, trench coats and cozy sweaters were here to show just that!
Pieces that could easily feel preppy, like a pencil skirt with a crewneck knit, were refreshed with patent leather, richer textures and bold colors like tomato red, chartreuse and saffron. Even the cardigans got a glow-up, finished with delicate metallic embroidery. And the silk dresses? They hang easy, elegant and slightly lived-in with dropped waists and a softly washed, worn feel.
The setting added to the charm. Instead of a typical warehouse runway, the show unfolded inside Sotheby’s uptown offices, complete with mustard carpeting and retro wood panels. Models like Alex Consani and Emily Ratajkowski strode through the rooms in breezy, ’80s-tinged dresses and antique-inspired silhouettes, while Tessa Thompson and Amanda Seyfried vibed in the front row to a remix of Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” Burch gave them all a night to remember as they experienced timeless fashion with a pulse.
Every look arrived in striking color-blocked combinations that were very much in line with how Burch sees women dressing today -- instinctively, and not by a strict style rulebook. It also nodded to Bunny Mellon’s approach to life and design, while the dresses carried that same spirit.
One standout was a bold electric orange piece with a twisted shape, subtly referencing Grecian draping and vintage drop-waist silhouettes from the ’20s and ’30s. While she introduced softer versions in spring, the fall pieces felt tougher and more grounded, made in dense washed silk with pleated, twisted and slightly deconstructed details. The pieces were pretty and easy to wear, with outerwear being a true highlight.
In her after notes, Burch described Fall 2026 as a reflection on what truly lasts. It was all about how women actually dress today -- by feeling, not by rules.
At its core, the collection was about twisting familiar classics into something more personal and emotional. Because, as Burch subtly suggests, getting dressed shouldn’t just be routine, it should make you feel something. Clothes that announce that you are getting things done, in style!
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