paris fashion week

27 days and countless numbers of shows later, Fashion Month has finally come to a close. To say that spring/summer 2020 has been nothing short of major is an understatement: From Marc Jacobs’ joyous and exuberant presentation in New York, to Jennifer Lopez’s show-stopping appearance on the Versace catwalk, the season generated enough headline-making buzz. Paris Fashion Week, the final stop on this extraordinary whirlwind, was the icing on the cake.

One needn’t look far for a dose of impactful fashion: Designers such as Rick Owens, Thom Browne and Comme des Garcons’ Rei Kawakubo continued their streak of conjuring conceptual collections that pushed the boundaries of convention. Meanwhile, Dries van Noten’s collaboration with couturier Christian Lacroix resulted in a breathtaking collection that stirred up plenty of emotions. Female rounds up some of Paris fashion week’s noteworthy talking points:

A Matter Of Identity 

paris fashion week
Saint Laurent Spring Summer 2020

The study of Parisian style emerged as a strong theme for spring/summer 2020. At Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello delved into the brand’s heritage and emerged with clothes dripping with attitude. Chanel’s Virginie Viard put a youthful spin on tweed suits and monochrome dresses, then displayed them on models who traversed across a set constructed in the likeness of Parisian rooftops. Over at Celine, Hedi Slimane revisited the hedonism of the Seventies with a collection of cool blazers, pussy-bow blouses and lamé dresses.

The Cat’s Out Of The Bag

A Hello Kitty bag is the last thing one expects to see during a collection steeped in political commentary, but that’s what show-goers saw at Balenciaga anyway. Creative Director Demna Gvasalia isn’t one to play by the rules, so he had male models take to the runway with the bags in tow. Rendered in white, black and pink, the bags provided a hint of irreverence to an otherwise solemn show.

Bright Lights, Big City 

paris fashion week
Valentino Spring Summer 2020

Who’d have thought that neon hues would one day receive the couture treatment? Valentino’s Pierpaolo Piccioli did just that—jolting the senses awake with a parade of elegant dresses drenched in bold acid colours at his spring/summer 2020 outing for the storied House.

Head & Shoulders

paris fashion week
Loewe Spring Summer 2020

Brace yourselves—fashion will witness an influx of attention-grabbing collars next season. Designers all over were neck-deep in the trend. In Paris, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton crafted delicate ruffles on ultra-feminine dresses. Meanwhile at Loewe, Jonathan Anderson conceived newfangled interpretations loaded with regal connotations.