The final destination for fashion week 2019, Paris Fashion Week was truly unforgettable! The trends that rocked the runway were chunky sneakers, oversized outfits, luxury mini-bags and sports-inspired looks.
We’ve rounded up our top picks:
1. Givenchy SS20 Collection
Designed by Clare Waight Keller, this Givenchy collection combines the botanical old-world Paris with a tough urban spirit of New York City. Hothouse colours from marigold to magenta, cerulean and emerald swirl against sandy neutrals and monochrome hound’s tooth. This collection has a little bit of everything; crisp poplin, canvas and taffeta blouses, over-skirts and sun dresses.
2. Chloe SS20 Collection
Natacha Ramsay-Levi’s fifth runway collection is drastically different from her previous collections. She decided to shed the bold prints and boho accessories in favour of a more refined, practical look. The collection features silk lavaliere shirts, a strong feminine suit, a shirtdress with interesting volume, a French-inspired knit, pleated dresses in a creamy peach colour, message tees and micro-floral-print frocks.
3. Loewe SS20 Collection
Designed by Jonathan Anderson, the collection alludes to a patrician elegance, where extremes of femininity and luxury are pushed to new heights.Using crisp and decorative fabrics, Loewe has carefully crafted a collection with hints of drama, suspense, intimacy and control.
4. Balmain SS20 Collection
Designer Olivier Rousteing dedicated this collection to celebrate personal identity. He even debuted a tee that read ‘own who you are’. The monochrome looks resonated with Rousteing’s recent racial self-discovery. The collection was framed around his experience as a kid in the late 1990s and early 2000s listening to Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Destiny’s Child. The one-legged pants and jumpsuits were pir fave.
5. YSL SS20 Collection
Creative director, Anthony Vaccarello reminded us of Yves Saint Laurent 20th century accomplishments; his Le Smokings and his hippie deluxe Russian collection — and how Vaccarello systematically reiterates it for a new generation. The theme was hippie glam, which was highlighted with turban-tied Lurex head scarves, gold paisley embroidered dresses, chiffon blouses, pleated lamé skirts, peasant smocks, and off-the-shoulder necklines. For the timeless element of YSL, Stella Tennant and Naomi Campbell modelled the tuxedo suits.
6. Dior SS20 Collection
Designer Maria Grazia Chiuri combines two of her passions; floral print and the environment. According to The Guardian, “This was a collaboration with Coloco, a collective of urban landscapers whose philosophy is to “facilitate active exchange between citizens and nature” through communal gardens.”
This collection also had a feminist angle to it. Catherine Dior, the designer’s sister, was a member of the resistance and a devoted plants woman was the inspiration for this collection. ” The long skirts came in rough hessian, paired with a shirt in utility blue. The embroidered “book tote” doubled as a trug, carrying forks and trowels. The botanical prints of 17th-century German botanist Maria Sybilla Merian were the starting point for prints highlighting the beauty of thistles, poppies, wild flowers, as well as roses. Under their hats, the models wore their hair in twin plaits as a reference to Greta Thunberg.”
7. Paule KA SS20 Collection
Under Maxime Simoëns’ creative direction, Paule Ka dresses a French girl in search of thrills inherited from the 1990s, whether she is a fashion addict, working girl or a classic girl. The wardrobe is inspired by the endless energy of Manhattan, following the footsteps of Carrie Bradshaw and her three best friends, Samantha, Miranda and Charlotte.
8. Valentino SS20 Collection
Designer, Pierpaolo Piccioli opened the show with 12 looks highlighting the colour white. The collection featured huge bishop sleeves, ruffles, mini shifts, shorts, transparency and feathers. There were minor religious references as the shirt collars, billowing sleeves, and ruffs was reminiscent of nuns or medieval page boys.
Piccioli is aware of what women of all ages want to wear and he flawlessly delivered. He made the collection more casual by creating light, floppy georgettes dresses in vivid colours like green, absinthe, peach, and plum. These clothes could easily be worn on beaches or boats during a long, lazy summer. The colour scheme stretched from white to black, with highlights of mauve, pink sequins and neon taffeta.
9. Off-White SS20 Collection
Designer, Virgil Abloh created a calm and simple collection, very different from other designers. According to Vogue Magazine, “the concept was titled Meteor Strike, a collection about that astral phenomenon in one sense and the strength of women in another.”
Streamlined shapes, essentially honed down to shirtdresses, pants, T-shirts, bias-cut knits, and sheath dresses.
10. Alexander McQueen SS20 Collection
Designer, Sarah Burton explained her collection “I love the idea of people having the time to make things together, the time to meet and talk together, the time to reconnect to the world.” To reinforce her statement, she had the entire Alexander McQueen staff walk the runway. She received a very long standing ovation for showcasing community spirit.
Burton reinvented old patterns and upcycled lace, organza and tulle from previous seasons. According to Vogue magazine, “every piece was gorgeous and purposeful: a black evening suit with a slashed jacket; a simple day dress in black “beetled” linen with a pin-tucked bodice and puffy sleeves; a tiny strapless frock in pale blue organza; an ivory sweater dress with a tiered skirt; a trench in raw linen and black wool with a flirtatious backside.” There were looks for every occasion: a half-tailored jacket with lace and ruffles for a wedding or red carepet event; power suits for the office, a patched, striped shirt dress for a chic day and a a slashed knit frock in navy for a hot date. This collection proved that with great thought comes great beauty.
We love all the amazing trends we saw on the runway and we look forward to next year’s show!