NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Tommy Hilfiger loves celebrating New York City and its landmarks. He also loves a nautical theme 鈥� and a big surprise.
So for his show on Sunday night, the designer brought all those elements together in his typically splashy way, inviting guests aboard a decommissioned ferry boat and giving them not only a runway show but a rap-filled finale.
The live musical performance, which electrified the fashion crowd, featured Ghostface Killah, Method Man, and Raekwon from Staten Island鈥檚 own Wu-Tang clan weaving through the runways and seats as they sang. The soundtrack was curated by Questlove, who also served as DJ for at the Oyster Bar in Grand Central Station.
鈥淲e鈥檙e inspired by nautical this season,鈥� Hilfiger told The Associated Press before the show. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 nautical, preppy, collegiate, all-American and modern. So we needed to show it either on the water, on a boat or near the water. Then we found out the Staten Island Ferry was available.鈥�
The boat, called the John F. Kennedy, served as a Staten Island Ferry until it was decommissioned in 2021. It was bought the following year by investors including actor-comedian Pete Davidson and 鈥淪aturday Night Live's鈥� Colin Jost, who both grew up in the New York City borough.
鈥淲e are really the first people to utilize it (the ferry) for an event,鈥� Hilfiger said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e really excited.鈥�
Jost was delighted to see the boat being used for the purpose he imagined. 鈥淚t鈥檚 pretty crazy," he said. "It鈥檚 one of the few days where I鈥檝e been on the boat and been like, 鈥極h, say, this is nice. This is how it can work.鈥�
鈥淚 took this exact boat every single morning to high school,鈥� Jost added, explaining why he'd bought the boat. "And when it was available, I just loved the vibe of it.鈥�
Hilfiger's Spring 2025 collection featured nautical style stripes 鈥渋nspired by sailing heritage,鈥� the label explained, and casual styles like capri pants and oversized knits. There were Hilfiger鈥檚 much-loved varsity jackets, trench coats, club blazers, and polos. Accessories included bandanas around the neck. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the New American Prep wardrobe,鈥� the label said in a statement, 鈥渇using vibrant Ivy League style with everyday coastal functionality.鈥�
Waiters strolling between the ferry seats served guests Champagne, beer, hot dogs, soft pretzels, and custom boxes of caramel corn with a Hilfiger logo and Statue of Liberty pins inside as a prize.
Brooke Shields was having an emotional evening. Her daughter, Grier, was taking a break from her freshman year at college to appear on her first fashion week runway.
鈥淚 got very emotional," Shields said. "It was her first show and this is something she wanted to do. And I said, 鈥榊ou鈥檝e got to go to college, but it鈥檚 a Sunday, so it鈥檚 okay.鈥欌��
Actors Shay Mitchell and Madelyn Cline were among the admirers of the collection.
鈥淚ncredible, as always,鈥� said Mitchell. 鈥淚 want every piece. The accessories were phenom, and how do you end a show better than what he did?鈥�
Brooke Lefferts, The Associated Press
