For Spring 2027, Caroline Zimbalist Crafted 'Wearable' Exoskeletons

Hed options: Caroline Zimbalist’s Spring 2027 Collection Is Its Most Wearable Yet
Caroline Zimbalist Studied Insect Markings for Spring 2027
Caroline Zimbalist Crafted Sculptural ‘Exoskeletons’ for Spring 2027

Caroline Zimbalist, now on her second season showing on the official CFDA calendar, corners the market on sculptural creations veering into the fantastical. Using “biodegradable bioplastics,” the designer crafts organic embellishments akin to wearable works of art, but for Spring 2027, she’s going for an increasingly commercial approach.

“I’ve really evolved the biomaterial technique so now it truly is almost coming into and out of the fabric,” Zimbalist told Fashionista at her Spring 2027 presentation on Monday. “The garments feel even more wearable than ever.”

“If I really want to be a successful designer here, people need to be wearing things that they can move in,” Zimbalist continued. “So really, truly challenging myself to bring that fine art element back to a wearable grounding state.”

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This season, the label’s wearable offerings include ruffled asymmetrical slips, pleated wide-leg pants and halter neck maxi dresses. To achieve the collection’s colorful, nature-inspired prints, Zimbalist turned to insects for inspiration. More specifically, she studied their individual markings and trails to explore the idea of “leaving our shells behind.”

The label also unveiled “exoskeletons,” as Zimbalist calls them, or hard, multi-colored shells that represent molting. Butterfly wings extend across bodices, while dragonfly motifs appear on “slinky” lace dresses. Pointillism permeates throughout the collection via bio-sequins embedded onto silk fabrics (rather than individually placing each sequin), Zimbalist added.

Ahead, see all the looks from Caroline Zimbalist’s Spring 2027 collection.