Structure unraveled into experimentation and rebellion in collections created by UC San Diego students at TREND Magazine’s annual spring fashion show on May 13.

The 2026 fashion show theme, “[un]tailored,” described how “order meets chaos.” The collections examined how rejecting more rigid and traditional fashion conventions gives way to distortion, revolution, and reinvention. All 16 designers presented their interpretations of “[un]tailored” throughout the evening. Pairing oversized and asymmetrical silhouettes, unexpected fabric blends, exaggerated proportions, and unique color combinations, they challenged traditional fashion norms. While each designer showcased a memorable collection, several works served as especially strong takes on the theme “[un]tailored.”

The show began with two pieces from third-year Artemisia Barker’s collection, “Pull of the Moon.” Barker’s first work was a light blue silk dress with a delicate dark blue ribbon and draping fabric on the sides for added texture. Her second design had a distinctive flair with baggy pants, a collared shirt, and a blazer featuring a floral pattern. While describing her concept, Barker mentioned that she was inspired by the ocean and gazing up at the moon. Together, the two outfits embodied the relationship between the moon and sea — one reflecting the ocean’s fluidity, and the other depicting the moon’s gravitational pull on the tides. 

Ryn Fodge’s collection, “Devotion to Degradation,” included two looks — a princess and a knight. The princess look included an asymmetrical top and a skirt with a light blue color scheme, while the knight’s featured a patchwork jean jacket with shoulder pads and a headpiece imitating armor. With her use of patterns and vivid color, Fodge’s interpretation reinvented earlier medieval design methods into a more contemporary garment. 

In her collection, “Para Mi Cultura,” third-year Perla Perez examined her family’s culture with pieces combining traditional Mexican handcrafts, such as hair braiding, and a mantilla-like head covering. Her collection also conveyed a powerful social message. At the end of the performance, her final model turned around to display a hand-painted jacket that read “F— ICE” on the back: a powerful statement against pressing American issues and policies. The message of Perez’s collection inspired several other designers to verbally share their support for the rebellion and say “F— ICE” after presenting their collections. 

Finally, Daniel Nepomuceno, a fourth-year and co-editor-in-chief of TREND, presented his collection, “Dying Stars & Unfulfilled Wishes.” Nepomuceno experimented with silhouettes and clashing styles in his presentation to create an appearance that was genuinely untailored, seeking to explore how order shapes chaos. He combined formal attire with casual slacks, adding big plaid pockets and sewing loose fabric to clothes to give them a more flowy appearance. Nepomuceno’s final piece had a variety of textiles draped about the model’s body, creating an avant-garde look. His designs combined different fabrics to emphasize unconventionality over wearability, breaking the boundaries of what we consider to be socially acceptable attire.

“[Un]tailored” aimed to convey a message to the audience rather than merely try out various materials, styles, and processes — a warning not to be cautious in fashion. For many people, clothing is more than just something we put on our bodies; it can also be a way to express our opinions and challenge social standards. “[Un]tailored’s” designers showed us what is possible with clothing and left the audience feeling inspired to defy traditional norms of fashion.