Lily Collins Went All-In on ’90s Minimalism at Calvin Klein

Before this week’s Calvin Klein show, actor Lily Collins hadn’t attended New York Fashion Week since 2019, which is hard to believe given she’s a regular red carpet star—and, of course, plays our favorite fashion-obsessed character heroine on Emily in Paris.

“I haven’t been to NYFW in quite some time, so being back for this show felt extra special,” Collins told Vogue shortly before taking in the spring 2026 presentation on Friday. “I’ve always loved fashion and the thrill of seeing designers bring bold new visions to the runway. Being here again brought me back to my late teens and early twenties, when I’d stand outside the shows, soaking up the excitement and electricity of it all. Full circle.”

Naturally, she chose one of the buzziest collections of the week to attend. Collins was in her VIP seat to witness designer Veronica Leoni’s new vision for the classic American brand. “This show was so inspiring—completely comfortable and utterly chic,” says Collins. “I love the colors and the silhouettes, the accessories, and the coats. Her layering is stunning.” She particularly loved the more comfort-forward looks, too. “Who doesn’t want to feel that chic in a bathrobe?!”

Jacob Rozenberg understood the assignment. We went with soft textured waves that took inspo from those iconic CK ’90s ads.Photo: Greg Kessler

Her own look for the show also nodded back to the origin spirit of Calvin Klein. The star chose a custom shimmering silver bra top and skirt that called back to sleek ’90s elegance, which Klein helped define during the decade. “It’s a custom version from one of my favorite looks from Veronica’s debut collection,” says Collins. “The crop top and skirt reminded me of the iconic Calvin collections of the ’90s—that cool minimalism that became the unofficial uniform of New York and the decade.” Collins also wanted to bring the look into the now, via the silhouette and dazzle factor. “I wanted to play with proportion and make it feel new, and a bit 2025,” she says. “The low skirt on the hip felt fresh, and a cool proportion to mix with a matching crop top.”

While Collins has experimented with many different looks and vibes on many Hollywood step and repeats, she admits a big part of the fun of attending NYFW, for her, is the opportunity to test out a brand new look. “I love playing around with new shapes and silhouettes,” says Collins. “The material was also so unique, super playful, and chic. A fun nod to the ’90s CK aesthetic while feeling fresh and modern, and very me.”