Kim Shui SS26 — Hair with Altitude
This September, Boulder Hair Collective had the honor of stepping backstage at New York Fashion Week SS26 for Kim Shui’s show at One World Trade Center. Our very own Trey Bower was part of the talented styling team led by Jaylin Seng and Paul Miller, where the directive was all about effortless, natural beauty: edgy waves, air, shine, and embracing natural curls and frizz. The result? Hair that looked alive, confident, and perfectly matched Kim Shui’s bold and sophisticated Spring/Summer 2026 collection. ——- Now let’s get down to business…
When Kim Shui takes over the 103rd floor of One World Trade Center for New York Fashion Week SS26, you don’t expect anything subtle. The entire city of New York sprawled beneath glass walls, sunset folding into twilight, and a room full of editors, celebrities, and insiders waiting to see how Shui would rewrite the rules for her Spring/Summer 2026 collection.
But as dazzling as the skyline was, the real spectacle was happening backstage.
The vision from hair leads Jaylin Seng and Paul Miller was clear: edgy natural waves with shine, air, and unapologetic frizz. A trend repeated throughout NYFW this season — that “effortless” beauty that looks like it doesn’t care, but in reality takes absolute mastery to pull off.
Enter Trey Bower and the backstage hair team. Watching Trey work in that pressure cooker was like watching an artist sketch in motion. One model came in with curls ready to rebel; he shaped them into texture that looked intentional, polished yet free. Another arrived with straight hair, and within minutes, Trey had coaxed in bends of movement, soft waves that caught the light as if the city itself was styling them. His approach wasn’t about forcing uniformity — it was about respecting each model’s natural pattern and then elevating it until it became runway-worthy.
And let’s be clear: this was a team triumph. Stylists, assistants, every hand in the room played a role. Shine spray moving like mist over the Hudson, irons flipping from one model to the next, touch-ups flying as showtime drew closer. Backstage at NYFW is organized chaos, and this squad handled it like a symphony.
Meanwhile, the clothes demanded nothing less. Corsetry layered under sheer tulle, lace-up blazers, bias-cut chiffons in a palette of oyster, blush, gray, and just enough black. Inspired by Artemisia Gentileschi’s Allegory of Inclination, Shui played with concealment and revelation — exposing and concealing skin in equal measure, creating a collection that was equal parts sexy, intelligent, and defiant. But fashion this bold needs hair that can carry it, and that’s exactly what Trey and the team delivered: undone polish, shine with air, a little chaos that felt undeniably chic.
When the lights dropped and the skyline outside turned to glitter, the transformation was complete. Models walked with hair that felt alive — waves bouncing, curls shining, frizz intentional and stylish. With Romero Jennings perfecting makeup for MAC and Jordyn Woods watching from the front row, Kim Shui SS26 became more than a runway — it became a moment.
And here’s the truth about New York Fashion Week backstage beauty: you either deliver under pressure, or you don’t. At Kim Shui SS26, Trey Bower and the entire styling team didn’t just deliver. They owned it.
Bringing runway artistry back home is what excites us most. The techniques Trey and the team perfected backstage — enhancing natural texture, creating movement, and making “effortless” look effortless — are the same principles we bring to every appointment at Boulder Hair Collective. Fashion week might take place on the 103rd floor in New York, but the inspiration, creativity, and elevated beauty are alive right here in Boulder.
