NYFW F/W 26 didn’t abandon the industry’s appetite for debuts, but it did widen the lens. This season, casting directors like Ashley Brokaw, Michelle Lee, Julia Lange, Nicola Kast, and Tasha Tongpreecha reached back to the late ’90s and early ’00s, bringing Caroline Forsling to Kallmeyer, Sylvia van der Klooster to TWP, Danielle Zinaich at Calvin Klein, Teresa Lourenco at Prabal Gurung, while Romae Gordon continued her ascent at Proenza Schouler following her breakout exclusive at Versace’s S/S 26 show. The shift had already surfaced at Chanel’s Haute Couture Spring 2026 show, cast by Anita Bitton, where Stephanie Cavalli, who debuted in 2023, opened the show alongside Venus and Gordon who also walked in Matthieu Blazy’s first couture debut for the house. While debuts continue to drive momentum, casting this season so far signals a growing openness to models at different stages of their careers. As the calendar moves to London, the question is whether this broader casting perspective will carry through the remaining cities. Below, meet the models stepping back into focus, whether rediscovered or entering a well-earned second act.
Romae Gordon
After stepping away from modeling for nearly three decades, Jamaican model Romae Gordon made her way to Milan as a Versace S/S 26 exclusive. She then followed with another exclusive at Matthieu Blazy’s debut at Chanel Spring Couture 2026, before heading to New York for Rachel Scott’s debut for Proenza Schouler F/W 26.
Caroline Forsling
A fixture of the original ’90s modeling era, Caroline Forsling has found renewed momentum through her ongoing collaboration with Kallmeyer, introducing her to a new generation of designers and audiences. This season, she expanded her presence across New York’s independent circuit, walking for Collina Strada, TWP, FFORME, and Prabal Gurung —proof of fashion’s growing appreciation for experience and enduring presence.
Danielle Zinaich
Danielle Zinaich’s exclusive appearance at Veronica Leoni’s Calvin Klein marked a full-circle moment, recalling her role as a defining face of the brand during its minimalist peak in the late ’90s. Her return underscored both her lasting connection to Calvin Klein’s visual identity and the continued resonance of the era’s original muses.
Teresa Lourenco
Trinidadian model Teresa Lourenço, once a muse to John Galliano, Karl Lagerfeld, and Ralph Lauren, delivered a standout season with appearances at TWP, Kallmeyer, and Prabal Gurung. Her return to prominence reflects a broader embrace of veteran models whose presence brings depth, history, and gravitas to today’s runways.
Sylvia van der Klooster
One of the defining faces of the late ’90s and early 2000s, Sylvia van der Klooster built her career working with industry powerhouses like Dries Van Noten, Versace, Fendi, and Prada. This season, her return to the New York runway at TWP, Kallmeyer, and Prabal Gurung reaffirmed the enduring strength of her presence, as designers continue to embrace the timeless authority of fashion’s original top models.
Stephanie Cavalli
Stephanie Cavalli made her runway debut at Tibi before becoming a Miu Miu muse, walking for the house three times. From there, she stepped onto Chanel’s Métiers d’Art 2026 runway in New York, and most recently opened Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2026 show.
Venus
Featured on Models.com in 2025, Leslie Venus walked Lemaire and Auralee last September before securing an exclusive at Matthieu Blazy’s debut Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2026 show. She later continued her momentum this season in New York at Proenza Schouler.
