By Emily Cronin

Sure, some of us are still writing “2015” and adjusting to the New Year. But somehow it’s time to shift gears and get ready for autumn-winter 2016. The month-long international show season kicks off with New York Fashion Week from 11-18 February. NYFW is more than just a week—it’s eight-ish days, packed with shows, presentations, launch events, album drops, parties, after-parties, and more. Click through our guide to find out what everyone will be talking about at NYFW.

Kylie Jenner

The Elle cover star, Kylie, and big sis Kendall already boast two fashion lines, thanks to collaborations with Topshop and PacSun. But this NYFW, the Jenner sisters seem set to introduce their first higher-end offering. In mid-January, editors received a save-the-date for a ‘Kendall + Kylie Jenner Launch Event’ taking place on 8th February. WWD reported that the new brand “reflects their current tastes and styles they actually wear,” fusing Kendall’s “classic, feminine style” with Kylie’s “more edgy streetwear,” in a predominantly black and white palette. Expect major buzz.

Rihanna

She still makes music, but since December 2014, Rihanna has also lent her cool to Puma as the German sportswear brand’s creative director. This NYFW, she’s taking her vision to the runway with the first Puma by Rihanna fashion show. Revealed (as an experience open for bidding in an online charity auction) rather than announced, the show is set for 12th February, ensuring that it’s all anyone will be talking about over the weekend. Our bet for most likely front-row footwear? The sold-out Puma by Rihanna Creepers, of course. And the soundtrack? Surely her new album, ANTI.

Eckhaus Latta

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Mike Eckhaus and Zoe Latta, the designers behind Eckhaus Latta, keep coming up with novel ways to show clothes. At last February's show, an artist bashed down a sheetrock wall with a mallet as the models did their circuits. Other shows have centred around notable casts, with poet Grace Dunham, musician Dev Hynes, and Transparent actress, model, and trans activist Hari Nef walking the runway. The rise of gender-neutral fashion means even more eyes should be on this young brand for its next outing.

Derek Zoolander

When Derek Zoolander and Hansel (played by Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson respectively) crashed the Valentino runway last March, they achieved instant viral fame and proved that the fashion tribe has a sense of fun, as fast as you can say “Blue Steel”. Zoolander 2 is a sequel with serious fashion cred: Marc Jacobs has a cameo, and Vogue put Stiller, in character as Zoolander, on its February cover. The film hits cinemas on 12th February, so look out for more tongue-in-chiselled-cheek pranks over the early days of NYFW.

The Weather (see also: Sorel boots)

February is slush central in New York, and forecasts suggest that this year won’t be an exception. Past snowmageddons have seen show attendees forego all efforts to appear effortlessly stylish (well, most, anyway) in favour of simply staying dry. It’s enough to make you feel smug about getting to click through shows from your sofa. After all, polluted snowmelt is hell on the fur-lined Gucci loafers.

Kanye West

Show season may not start for another week, but we’ve seen the future, and can reliably inform you that the soundtrack of the season will be WAVES. Kanye West’s seventh studio album drops on 11th February, AKA the first official day of NYFW, and West has confirmed his album launch party will also serve as the unveiling of Yeezy Season 3. This being a Kanye West production, it's going to be major—the Cineworld website promises “a suitably spectacular unveiling in its entirety at Madison Square Garden with a performance by his visual art collaborator Vanessa Beecroft”, to be broadcast live to cinemas around the world. Even if you don't buy tickets, prepare for Beats and earbuds to feature in all the best street style photos. Because new Kanye tracks on headphones > earmuffs, no matter the temperature.

Eva Chen

When the former Lucky editor announced that she was joining Instagram as its head of fashion partnerships last July, everyone saw the genius of the hire… And then wondered how #evachenpose would translate to Silicon Valley results. Six months into the job, Chen has answered that question by ‘gramming every model, designer, and influencer who visits the company’s campus in #theinstagramsweatshirt. She’s conducted designer interviews on the platform and brokered content partnerships with magazines. And while nothing has been announced, we have a feeling she’ll take Instagram to NYFW, in a bigger, better way than ever before.

Men (see also: Rag & Bone, Tom Ford)

The mainstreaming of menswear gets a boost from Rag & Bone for AW16, with designers David Neville and Marcus Wainwright saying they’ll show their men’s and women’s collections together during the brand’s runway event on 15 Feb. Tom Ford will do the same in his presentations. It’s an approach seen at last season’s Givenchy extravaganza, and at Alexander Michele’s breathtakingly gender-fluid shows for Gucci. Dressing to match your boyfriend: now officially on-brand.

Spring clothes for spring (see also: Rebecca Minkoff, Banana Republic, Misha Nonoo)

One of the quirks of the fashion system is that brands typically show clothes about six months in advance—so this spring, we’re looking at clothes that no one (except maybe Rihanna) will get to wear until next winter. A few New York brands are challenging that system in inventive ways. Rebecca Minkoff will re-show her spring-summer collection to an audience comprised mostly of her clients, hoping that the hype generated by the show motivates people to shop in-store-now styles. Banana Republic will offer limited-edition items for immediate purchase at its AW16 presentation. And Misha Nonoo will skip the runway altogether, saving her autumn-winter collection for next NYFW, in September. It’s confusing, yet genuinely revolutionary stuff. And a movement that will be happening on a bigger scale this year with brands including Burberry and Tom Ford. Spring clothes for spring: Ground-breaking.

Lineisy Montero

This time last year, Lineisy Montero hadn’t walked in a single major fashion show. Then she nabbed an exclusive booking for Prada, and the rest is runway lore. The Dominican model has proven her versatility on top runways since then, logging 78 show credits from June to December alone according to models.com. Last season, she opened Jason Wu and Derek Lam, and appeared in shows for Marc Jacobs, the new DKNY, Proenza Schouler, Oscar de la Renta, and more. We hope she’ll be back. (Pro tip: follow @moremodelsofcolor on Instagram for a sense of the diversity of new faces waiting to make their mark on fashion.)

Mansur Gavriel

You already know and love their bucket bags—now it’s time to wear MG down to your toes. Last season, designers Rachel Mansur and Floriana Gavriel unveiled their first foray into footwear in a big way, showing 320 different variations on the slide sandal at their presentation. That’s five heel heights, four strap styles, 15 colours, and two fabrications (leather or suede), available on Net-a-Porter this month. Although suede mules and slides may seem incompatible with the weather (see above), these are going to be the shoes to spot at NYFW.

Milk Studios (see also: venues, traffic)

Milk used to be the far-flung capital of emerging fashion at NYFW. With NYFW’s move last season (from Lincoln Center to two downtown venues, Skylight Moynihan Station and Skylight Clarkson Square), Milk is now bang in the middle of the fashion map. It’s also a well-oiled machine, with several floors hosting presentations and shows simultaneously. We love it for its excellent street-style spotting, and its proximity to Chelsea Market, home to plenty of places to refuel and caffeinate before the next trek up or downtown.