For Fall 2026, Tommy Hilfiger brought his signature American prep vision back to New York Fashion Week with a star-studded homecoming at The Plaza Hotel. Global brand ambassador Travis Kelce anchored the campaign alongside a cross-cultural cast, marking a major milestone for the designer.
A Homecoming at The Plaza Hotel for New York Fashion Week
Tommy Hilfiger returned to the NYFW calendar this season with a collection showing at New York’s famed Plaza Hotel for the first time. For Hilfiger, the venue carries deep personal significance. The designer lived at the hotel for a number of years with his family in the middle of Manhattan, making it his former home.
Returning to The Plaza feels like a homecoming,
Tommy Hilfiger said, reflecting on the decision to stage the runway show and shoot the Fall ad campaign at the landmark location. “The moment you walk through the doors, you feel the energy of New York. It’s one of those rare places where the greats of pop culture have crossed paths for generations, and that atmosphere is still there today. Bringing Travis and this incredible cast together felt like celebrating everything I love about the city—its optimism, charisma and endless sense of possibility.”
The show was one in a long line of pop culture cameos for the Plaza hotel. This is where Cary Grant was kidnapped from the Oak Room in Hitchcock’s North by Northwest, and where Macaulay Culkin ran into its then owner, Donald Trump, in the lobby in Home Alone 2. Over the years, The Plaza has welcomed figures including Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Travis Kelce and a Cross-Cultural Cast Lead the Campaign
Travis Kelce, who is co-designing another upcoming collection with Hilfiger, was a no-show at the catwalk event despite being rumored to attend. However, he stars as the central figure in the Fall 2026 Only in New York
campaign, which places the global brand ambassador at the center of Tommy Hilfiger’s New York world surrounded by a cross-cultural cast. Kelce’s NFL tunnel walks have become a catwalk of their own, making him the latest in a line of sporting ambassadors that includes Thierry Henry, Rafael Nadal and Lewis Hamilton.
People really like him,
Hilfiger said backstage, explaining why he chose to collaborate with Kelce. He’s really humble, down to earth, sweet, fun, and funny. And a superstar athlete.
The broader guest list and campaign roster bridged sports, fashion, music and entertainment. Front row seats at the runway presentation scored three of the Knicks’ stars—Josh Hart, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Miles McBride—given that the Knicks are the kings of New York right now. Meanwhile, the wider campaign cast featured model and longtime Tommy collaborator Gigi Hadid, BLACKPINK’s JISOO, Peggy Gou, Frances Tiafoe and Carmelo Anthony.
Reworking Brand Icons Through the ‘Prep Made Current’ Vision
Backstage before the show, Hilfiger said: Preppy is back in the zeitgeist.
The Fall 2026 collection advances the Prep Made Current
vision, reworking American classics for today with fresh new energy, elevating them with shape, fabrication, detail, and the way they are put together.
It’s a rebirth of our classics,
Hilfiger explained. “We’re reworking the brand icons and making everything with fresh new energy and elevating it with shape, fabrication, detail, and the way we put it together. We’re always evolving and always modernizing. This is a moment where we’re celebrating our classics in a new way.”
Hilfiger detailed the modern design updates, noting: “The shapes are all changing, and the fabric is becoming more sophisticated and sometimes more technical, more interesting. The way in which it’s styled is relevant for today and speaking to Gen Z and a more youthful audience. I love that we continue to pay attention to detail. The detail inside of the garment is as important as the exterior.” On the runway, sportswear codes and collegiate chic were blended together. A bright, boxy rugby shirt was worn loose over a neatly pleated skirt, a slick quarterzip layered under a neat blazer. Hotdog-stand colours of mustard and ketchup were splashed over civilised tones of Oxford blue and chino beige. The collection also features wide-legged and low-slung trousers, showing a new proportion.
A Deep-Cut Nod to Decades of American Menswear History
There was a deep-cut nod to Hilfiger’s history in the form of a silk dress, which re-printed the audacious Times Square billboard that launched his career. The advert listed the four greatest American menswear designers as Ralph Lauren, Perry Ellis, Calvin Klein and the then almost unknown Tommy Hilfiger. It was a provocative stunt from a rookie which, 41 years later, stands the test of time.
