The Trends that Stuck from Paris Fashion Week
80s remnants, modernized. This is just one of a few major trends that stuck out from this past ready-to-wear fashion week in Paris, but what trends have made it past the runway and onto the streets?
Signature silhouettes and forms have undoubtedly re-emerged this season, making high-fashion accessible even to the older generation. Looks from Celine and Balenciaga were nostalgic, reminiscent, and drew heavily on inspiration from the past. Among these silhouettes was a strong resurgence of tailoring: from big, defined 80s shoulders to double-breasted coats and suits, structured tailoring has made a comeback. Brands like Karim Adduchi, Each Other, Sacai, Thom Brown, Gauchère, Lacoste, and others, turned to refined tailoring as a common theme throughout their collections. Global Buying Director for Net-A-Porter Elizabeth von der Goltz commented on the trend in an article by Global Blue: "the continuation of menswear plaids and tweeds but with updated construction techniques — for example, Balenciaga’s tweed fabric is molded to neoprene to create beautifully sculpted jackets, or Sacai’s deconstructed half and half tailored jackets." Even since the week of shows, many have been seen on the streets of Paris sporting variations suits, styling looks with tailored jackets, and even men in high-rise pants, all ranging in colors from pastels, to earthy tonal browns, beiges, and blacks.
Another trend we’ve seen coming out of PFW is the blending of couture and ready-to-wear. Pier Paolo Picioli, creative director for Valentino, embodied this idea in his entire collection this season. He took us on an emotional storytelling journey, by including poetry in collaboration with Mustafa the Poet and Jun Takahashi on the garments themselves and used very sheer fabrics that moved beautifully with the model’s bodies. Other designers who took on this ethereal approach include Giambattista Valli and Beautiful People, with major emphasis on floral and chiffon fabrics. Japanese designer Noir Kei Ninomiya also gave us a couture feeling this ready-to-wear season, as he crafted biker jackets out of weaved leather, producing a rather unconventional silhouette.
While one would think this theme would be less prominent in Paris street-style post-fashion week, many people sported this ethereal look.
What does this mean for the casual, street-wear, ready-to-wear trend? We’re seeing a major decline. What used to be all about comfort and versatility is being replaced by elegance and sophistication. Sweatpants, joggers, and sneakers have not completely disappeared, nor will they ever, but there were undoubtedly more boots and extravagant, elegant dresses both on and off the runways this season. Paris, you never fail to stay on-trend.
