In the final week of fashion month, Paris unfurls the runways where designers reveal their boldest fantasies
The city of Paris takes the catwalk as the grand stage where designers unleash their boldest dreams. This season’s showcase? From avant-gardeAvant-GardeExperimental fashion that pushes boundaries and challenges conventional ideas of shape, material, and beauty. Avant-garde designers treat clothing as art, presenting sculptural silhouettes and unexpected textures on runways, and theirGo to Avant-Garde Glossary power shoulders that could double as in-flight floatation devices to blossoming blooms that turned models into walking gardens, Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 was a carnival of creativity.
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Powerful shoulders
Power dressingPower DressingA style of professional clothing, popularized in the 1980s, that uses strong tailoring, structured shoulders, and bold colors to project authority and confidence. Modern power dressing is more relaxed andGo to Power Dressing Glossary soared to new heights, quite literally, as Balenciaga wowed us with their exaggerated shoulder blazers. Junya Watanabe’s leather jackets folded and twisted like complex paper sculptures. It was fashion meets geometry, and it left us all pondering the mysteries of wearable art.
Garden garments
If you’ve ever dreamt of becoming one with Mother Nature, this season, Paris has you covered. Marni turned the runway into a botanical garden of the surreal, with dresses that looked like they’d been decorated by a very fashionable bee. You know you’ve made it in the gardening world when your roses light up the night, as seen in UNDERCOVER’s tulleTulleA lightweight, sheer netting fabric used to create volume, veils, and airy overlays in gowns, skirts, and bridal wear. Soft and romantic, tulle gives a dreamy, ballerina-like effect, and hasGo to Tulle Glossary dresses. And Balmain? Well, they took the phrase “wear your heart on your sleeve” literally, except oversized petals and sculptural shapes engulfed models, not hearts.
Boudoir boulevard
StreetwearStreetwearCasual fashion rooted in skate, hip-hop, and youth culture, defined by graphic tees, hoodies, sneakers, and limited-edition drops. Once an underground movement, streetwear now shapes luxury fashion through collaborations betweenGo to Streetwear Glossary took a bold—and cold—turn as Stella McCartney introduced silk tops paired with crystal-encrusted underwear, giving us a provocative twist on everyday attire. Isabel Marant evoked the allure of nightdresses, turning bedtime into a glamorous affair. This season, it’s all about embracing the allure of innerwear as outerwear.
Loud muted ones
Dior crafted witchy magic into the depths of gothic elegance, where shadows danced gracefully with the garments, as the intricate lace, the obsidian silks, and the engulfing silhouettes painted a haunting narrative. Saint Laurent chose a different altitude in earthy tones, soaring to the heights of airplane chic, where models strutted with the swagger of seasoned travelers, clad in attire that merged comfort and luxuryLuxuryrefers to a state of exceptional comfort, elegance, and quality, often characterized by premium craftsmanship, exclusivity, and superior experiences.Go to Luxury Glossary.
Cut and paste
Cut-out pieces and peekaboo details abound as if to form a mood board. Peter Do’s off-the-shoulderOff-the-ShoulderA neckline that sits below the shoulders, leaving the shoulders and upper arms exposed. Seen in tops, dresses, and gowns, the off-the-shoulder style is romantic and feminine, draws attention toGo to Off-the-Shoulder Glossary top with horizontal slits played with sensuality, transforming fabric into an art form that stretched from the chest. Schiaparelli’s signature keyhole shape tantalized, unlocking material like a hidden treasure.
Tartan twist
Colorful takes on the tartan were awash, and it doesn’t wash you out. Tartan met its comically chic alter ego, incorporating the fabric into distressed, sheer, or ruched. Acne Studios embraced its rebellious side whose only playlist is alternative rock. Louis Vuitton threw a checkerboard party with silk and chiffon shirts and skirts.
Alloy aesthetics
All that glitters wasn’t just gold—it was silver, too. Rabanne maintained its legendary status with chainmail garments that shimmered with timeless allure. Coperni introduced a gold metal fluted bustier top that gleamed with sophistication. Alexander McQueen closed the show with a sculpted silver breastplate and beaded skirt, proving that fashion is a canvas for metallic magic.
From power dressingPower DressingA style of professional clothing, popularized in the 1980s, that uses strong tailoring, structured shoulders, and bold colors to project authority and confidence. Modern power dressing is more relaxed andGo to Power Dressing Glossary that made us question the laws of gravity to floral extravaganzas that turned the runway into a blossoming meadow, Paris showed us the art of storytelling through fabric and form. Dreams are our favorite accessories, and fashion week is a realm where it all comes true.
Featured Image: PARIS FASHION WEEK (via Instagram)
