Paris brought us all the optimism we had hoped for. Front page worthy hemlines, party dressing for midnights at the Chez Castel and a winter escape dressed to the nines for the snowy alps - here are our best trend highlights from Paris Fashion Week.
The Mini Mini
From left to right, photos courtesy of Valentino, Maryam Nassir Zadeh and Chanel
It might be cold out but cut those skirts short. A noticeable and defiant trend seen on the runways of so many of our favourite designers - we had slashed hemlines and bare legs storming down Valentino, Chanel, Miu Miu and Maryam Nassir Zadeh just to mention a few.
Deluxe Apres Ski
From left to right, photos courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermès, Miu Miu, Chanel, Miu Miu and Dior
With much of Europe still in lockdown, designers dreamt of open spaces and winter wonderlands taking Apres Ski on a whole new luxurious spin for FW 21. Highlights included quilted jackets, ski pants and jump suits, headscarves and quilted sets at Dior, balaclavas at Miu Miu, ski goggles at Louis Vuitton and fair isle sweaters at Chanel - Paris Fashion Week conceptualised the perfect post pandemic break, wardrobes chic enough for mulled wine at the ski lodge.
All That Shimmers
From left to right, photos courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Valentino, Miu Miu, Loewe and Louis Vuitton
The world may still seem bleak, but optimism was still alight at Paris Fashion Week. For a season often bound by monochrome - glimmers of hope were threaded through every collection with glittering sequins, paillettes and shimmers of lurex and fine beading. A testament for the turning of time, Miu Miu, Loewe, Louis Vuitton and Valentino all shimmied in a hope for a brighter future.
The Big Black Coat
From left to right, photos courtesy of Valentino, Louis Vuitton and Loewe
The little black dress turned into the big black coat and quickly became a Paris Fashion Week trend favourite. A perfect marriage in grand volumes with prestige tailoring, the black coat went max volume and full shoulders for femme/masc ambiguity.
Viva Le Fringe
From left to right, photos courtesy of Chloe, Chanel and Hermes
Winter time blues had us all feeling a little crafty and here we see the resurgence of the beloved fringe. Woven fringed hemlines at Chanel, 60s-esque suede cowboy fringing at Hermes and macrame fringing touches at Gabriela Hearst's debut for Chloe - no doubt whether it's big or small, the fringe is back.
Disproportionate Proportions
From left to right, photos courtesy of Louis Vuitton, Chloe, Miu Miu, Loewe, Louis Vuitton, Loewe and Miu Miu
Sometimes the best things don't make sense and for FW 21, not making any sense made so much sense. Layering, styling, mismatching was all part of the theme with the supersize and the small, the volume with the tapered, the sportswear with cashmere luxe - disproportioned proportion was the silhouette of choice.
