On the heels of New York, London, and Milan fashion weeks, a very long month of fashion concluded in Paris because the global style capital still reigns supreme. Here the best in the market gather twice a year to present ready-to-wear that changes the game. The usual marquee brands, like Saint Laurent, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Miu Miu, made an appearance, along with other shows of note, including Ann Demeulemeester and Nina Ricci, where Ludovic de Saint Sernin and Harris Reed presented their debut collections as creative directors, respectively. So here are the top five trends that emerged at the PFW.
TRENCH COATS
From Alexander McQueen to Balenciaga, Hermes, Givenchy and Christian Dior all presented their variations on this winter classic.
We saw trench coats in denim, vinyl, satin, leather, two-tone, and charming colourful iterations. We also saw cape-like options and oversized trench coats worn by the likes of German influencer Leonie Hanne to model Ashley Graham. Despite the coat’s classic silhouette, these fashion tastemakers showed how versatile the style can be, wearing it in many different ways from morning to noon, and night.
FEATHERS
This trend really underscored the fact that designers LOVE drama! This season, designers injected a heavy dose of fabulousness into their Fall/Winter 2023 collections with the help of feathers. From tastefully attached feather trims to full-blown feather dresses and coats, Paris Fashion Week didn’t hold back on the glamour. They were seen on everything – skirts, jackets, and shoes, in wide-ranging colours, textures and sizes. We really loved Nina Ricci’s creative director Harris Reed’s pop of colours. However, Loewe and Valentino were liberal in their use of feathers, while others like Elie Saab and Victoria Beckham used them only for detailing purposes.
METALLICS
It feels like the 80s coz the metallics seem to be back! Paco Rabanne, Coperni, Balenciaga, Louis Vuitton and Alexander Mc Queen were among those who put metallics front and centre of their collection.
Our favourite was this exquisite sculpted corset metallic dress from Sarah Burton for Alexander Mc Queen.
BOLD SHOULDERS
If there is one trend that has kept making a resurgence every couple of years, it is the bold shoulder look. Reminiscent of the 90s shoulder pads and Alexis Carrington, this PFW, the bold shoulders were more structured and tailored.
Although bold shoulders are reserved for those who like taking fashion risks, the designs from this PFW invite you to take the plunge again. We loved the super structured Saint Laurent collection but also enjoyed the Louis Vuitton, Vivienne Westwood, and Alexander Mc Queen’s take on the trend.
COLOURS OF THE SEASON – RED, BLACK AND WHITE
Red continued to trend across the fashion weeks and the PFW was no different. Alexander Mc Queen’s creative director Sarah Burton explored evening wear in red, and there was one dress in particular that caught our eye. It was dramatic in volume, using an angular corset to a higher neck, nearly covering the face, on a strapless gown with a high-low bubble hem. There was a striking Stella Mc Cartney red suit, an oversized shirt /dress with a black tie from Valentino, and Giambattista Valli’s collection of flowy red dresses that also wowed.
Some delightful designs were served up in black and white, especially with brands like Issey Miyake, Alexander Mc Queen, Dior, Comme des Garçons and Schiaparelli in different styles, cuts, and fabrics.
