Go outside, “touch grass”. The trending phrase is about finding peace and grounding oneself, especially in an increasingly tumultuous political and environmental climate. It’s also something Hillary Taymour felt inclined to tap into for her SS25 Collina Strada presentation.

Yesterday’s Touch Grass show, which took place in the East Village’s Marble Cemetery, was like a lovely marriage between the fantasy realms of mermaids and fairies. Ground sweeping wavy hairdos with neon dip-dyed tips traced the ground and Strada muses sauntered or stomped in diaphanous pastel-hued slips and ruffled asymmetric dresses. Light airy pieces in new Collina Strada florals and tie-dyes fluttered with every step. Even the grungier, black and plaid ensembles had a certain softness to them.

About half way through there was a surprise cameo from local icon The Green Lady of Brooklyn, who wore an, all-green of course, shirt and trouser set with a cinched hoodie tied around her waist and carried a lizard as a ‘bag’, as well as fellow sustainability advocate Mara Hoffman who donned an all-black asymmetric pleated skirt and top. Then, somersaulting out into the greenspace was an acrobat. Leaping, twirling… death dropping into and rollicking in the grass. She wore a delicate yellow dress and playfully threw a handful of grass at Paramore’s Hayley Williams who sat in the front row. The last model out drove a push reel lawn mower, sporting a lacy black top and coordinating black bloomers.

It was a truly joyful show. And one to remember too. Do it like Collina Strada, and don’t forget to take a minute, go outside, and touch grass.

Photography by Bella Macgregor.

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