Collina Strada designer Hillary Taymour staged her spring/summer 2027 runway show at the Storm King Art Center in New York, marking the first time the sculpture park has ever hosted a fashion show, according to brand and venue accounts. The collection, titled “Detour” and reported by WWD, blended medieval romance with contemporary punk elements while incorporating footwear collaborations with Converse and KEEN.
Storm King Art Center Hosts First-Ever Fashion Show
Transporting the fashion crowd a few hours upstate during the waning days of New York Fashion Week, Taymour partnered with the Storm King Art Center for a landscape runway show, according to WWD. Models walked around Alexander Calder’s monumental sculpture “The Arch” while singer Carly Rae Jepsen performed live. Taymour told WWD that she wanted to acknowledge the travel commitment required of her guests. “If you’re coming and committing to me, I’m committing to you to have a good time,” she said.
According to Taymour, the location choice stemmed from a desire to connect clothing with physical space. “We wanted to create a show that wasn’t simply staged in a museum setting, but was inspired by the way we experience art in a museum,” Taymour explained. “I’ve always thought of clothing as a kind of sculptural practice.” Fabrics and materials move, stretch, fall, expand, and change with the bodies wearing them, she added.
Medieval Romance Meets Modern Punk in Collina Strada SS27
The “Detour” collection collided medieval romance with modern rebellion, described by Taymour as representing a “grungy Renaissance girl living in a modern world,” as reported by WWD. The aesthetic draws on eclectic historical and pop-culture references, including rococo and medieval elements inspired by the film A Knight’s Tale starring Heath Ledger and Shannyn Sossamon. These historical nods mixed with 18th-century romantic opulence, punk, grunge, Y2K aesthetics, and sequins.
According to collection notes, the garments featured organza feathers, abundant ruffles, chiffon, recycled sequins, plaids, and moiré. Fabrics were ruched, twisted, and draped to catch the wind across the grass. Taymour paid particular attention to volume in the lower half of the silhouette, utilizing oversize bloom pants and cargo shapes while keeping the garments wearable.
Converse and KEEN Footwear Collaborations Take the Stage
Footwear formed a central component of the runway presentation through official partnerships listed as Collina Strada x KEEN and Collina Strada x Converse. The Converse collaboration introduced the Chuck Taylor Plié, a dance-informed silhouette featuring romantic ruffles that debuted on the runway ahead of its December 3 global launch, according to WWD reporting. Taymour negotiated a specific provision regarding the collaboration: she secured royalties should Converse continue using the sole she designed, aiming to establish a precedent for independent designers.
The KEEN partnership, which began with the fall/winter 2026 collection titled “The World Is a Vampire,” continued on the Storm King runway. The collaboration reinterprets KEEN’s functional footwear models—specifically the Targhee and Jasper hiking styles—through Collina Strada’s distinct fashion lens.
Pragmatic Design and Fine Details
Beneath the eccentricity of the collection lies a practical approach to customer needs, according to WWD. Taymour incorporated long sleeves for wedding guests, cap sleeves, and forgiving trousers designed for fluctuating bodies. Additionally, dramatically draped skirts were paired with matching drawstring bags. “Comfort always comes first with me,” Taymour told WWD, emphasizing her focus on whether new garments deserve space in a consumer’s closet.
Accessories reinforced the collection’s rebellious historical theme. Details included earrings fashioned from safety pins, fluttering adornments mimicking mohawks, unusually shaped sunglasses, and chokers reminiscent of Marie Antoinette’s collars.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where was the Collina Strada spring/summer 2027 show held?
The show took place at the Storm King Art Center in upstate New York, marking the sculpture park’s first-ever fashion show.
What brands collaborated with Collina Strada for the SS27 collection?
Collina Strada collaborated with Converse—introducing the new Chuck Taylor Plié ahead of its December 3 global launch—and outdoor brand KEEN.
What inspired the Collina Strada “Detour” collection?
According to designer Hillary Taymour, the collection was inspired by a collision of medieval romance, the film A Knight’s Tale, punk, Y2K aesthetics, and modern rebellion.
Did you know? Hillary Taymour negotiated a royalty agreement with Converse for the custom sole she designed on the Chuck Taylor Plié, setting a notable contracting precedent for independent runway designers.
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