Collina Strada showed her SS24 collection at New York Fashion Week, bringing her signature dose of fun to the womenswear season.
Collina Strada was founded in 2008 by fashion designer Hillary Taymour. The brand is known for its distinct textures, sharp detailing and standout styles, which have all contributed to its ascension into the spotlight, with it now being a highlight of the fashion schedule.
Strada’s standout designs serve as an affront to sameness, proving that even in today’s oversaturated fashion landscape, original ideas can and should be shown to the world. The brand believes that inspiration is best found away from the beaten path, and nothing shows this more than the label’s recent collection.
Collina Strada chose a flower-filled garden at Brooklyn Navy Yard to present her SS24 offering. Collina Strada has been a leader when it comes to using inclusive models, and SS24 was no different, with diversity stemming across age, ability, size and gender.
Anita Bitton was in charge of casting, choosing talent that felt right for the brand, a brand that is unapologetically itself. Uglyworldwide opened the show, followed by Tommy Dorfman, Hari Nef, Tallulah Willis, and Aaron Rose Phillip, a disabled model first cast for Collina Strada in 2021.
Models took to the runway, grinning from ear to ear with clenched smiles, symbolising the act of grinning and bearing the current situation the world finds itself in. The emphasis was on the earth for this one, encouraging attendees to reconnect with universal feminine energy, which extended into the looks we saw, where traditional womenswear items such as corsets were featured as part of the exploration.
Layering consisted of ruched hemlines appearing from the bottom of fitted corsets in asymmetrical looks that perfectly fitted into the maximalist aesthetic of the Collina Strada brand.
Femme was at the fore, with cinched waists expanding at the hip. Accessories ranged from chunky silver jewellery to war-ready spikes, which featured on bags and footwear, contrasting fragility with a fierce can-do attitude.
Texture played a huge role in the offering, with satin being paired with lace and T-shirts arriving heavily distressed with a healthy dose of patchwork thrown in, too.
Semi-sheer skirts and slouchy silhouettes offered comfort in a crisis, as models brought a playful energy to the runway. Models wore ribbons loosely in their hair alongside satin headpieces as part of the otherworldly kitsch styling.
Collina Strada’s SS24 collection was a beautifully maximalist display of everything great about the brand, not taking itself too seriously while tackling sensitive issues, both addressing the real problems humans face daily and demonstrating that fashion is for everyone. Taymour’s label was a lesson in being yourself and balancing sustainability with style.
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