Tory Burch Lets Women Define Classic for Themselves

Tory Burch delves into her approach to sophisticated sportswear, where classic wardrobe staples are reworked with thoughtful twists

What makes a wardrobe classic? Tory Burch isn’t interested in the dictionary definition—she’s more concerned with how women actually wear, tweak, and redefine the idea for themselves. For Fall/Winter 2025 at New York Fashion Week, her collection looks to sportswear but reinterpreted: traditional staples are spliced, reshaped, and subverted with sophistication.

RELATED: Fall/Winter 2025: Did Veronica Leoni Just Make Calvin Klein Desirable for Women Again?

There is a skill to looking put-together, and Burch has refined it with consistency. A crisp banker-stripe shirt gets reengineered with extended cuffs, extra buttons inviting a cinch, a twist, or a laissez-faire drape. Leather jackets multitask, boasting snap-closure pockets of varying sizes, erasing the need for a handbag (though, naturally, there are bags mimicking these same pockets for those who still crave a good carryall). A tailored blazer comes ghosted in sheer mesh, an optical illusion of layering that lets a wearer play with the perception of polish.

However, Burch’s approach doesn’t reinvent. Velvet trousers, woven with metal, hold a gentle crinkle that suggests movement, a life well-lived. An off-the-shoulder dress hints at undone elegance, as though the wearer draped it over herself on the way out the door—except, of course, every detail is considered. There’s a nod to classic prep—tweed twin sets sliced for versatility, sweatpants made luxurious in brushed wool, fleece elevated to city wear with structured cuts.

Burch continues to experiment with contrasts, balancing practicality with an element of surprise. Knitwear is embroidered to mimic tweed, a trompe-l’œil trick that keeps the eye guessing. Sequined outerwear and silky filaments weave richness into everyday dressing. Throughout the collection, sportswear staples are subtly redefined—not with loud statements, but with small, deliberate tweaks that acknowledge how women truly dress.

The designer understands sophistication isn’t a fixed formula. With this collection, Tory Burch acknowledges that the definition of classic evolves with the individual. She offers a knowing take on classics, making it clear: no single definition will ever fit every woman. Instead, women define classic for themselves.

Photos: TORY BURCH