Kate Barton Spring 2027: Hamptons-Bound

by · WWD
Kate Barton Spring 2027 ready-to-wear collection at New York Fashion Week.Courtesy of Kate Barton

Like many New York residents, Kate Barton spent most of her summer holiday out east in the Hamptons. And from the looks of the models at her rooftop presentation Thursday night, they were ready to give up on a packed week of castings and shows to hitch a ride on the Jitney, too. 

Raffia bags toting flower bouquets and one adorable puppy were slung over their shoulders as if they just returned from the farmers’ market…psyche. In Barton’s world, there’s always more than meets the eye, and these were only the by-product of her ongoing experiments with trompe l’oeil prints.

During a preview, she explained: “I’m always wanting people to question things, what’s real and what isn’t.” That’s advice we should all heed in the age of AI.

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The bags decorated white tanks and baby Ts, while candy-colored jersey dresses and skirt sets were printed with the illusion draping that Barton’s been pushing for a few seasons. 

This season she introduced a new print to her repertoire: stripes, which ran horizontally across a spaghetti-strap maxidress overlaid with iridescent sequins. It was a dead ringer for the Todd Oldham spring 1994 gown Fran Drescher wore as “The Nanny,” (which Barton has never seen) and somehow was still the most exciting option. The clincher? It’ll retail for less than $1,000. 

Barton, who garnered recognition for her sculptural eveningwear in unconventional, proprietary materials, has been playing it safe lately as she pivots to the contemporary market to grow her business. 

One gets the sense that she understands better than most emerging designers that creativity and innovation will only take you so far without salable garments hanging from store racks. 

Still, she’d do well to ease up on the illusions a bit and get back to the real thing.