Paris Fashion Week Highlights

UoW Fashion Society

Oct 8, 20192 min read

Paris was undoubtedly iconic as it drew fashion month to a close. From ever-evolving designers taking to the runway in awe-inspiring ways, couture classics making an appearance and a very awkward catwalk intrusion, we highlight some of the key moments from the fashion capital itself.

Dior

Paris Fashion Week commenced with Maria Chiuri’s collection for Dior that subtly featured a sustainable element, whereby all the 164 trees used within the show’s backdrop would be replanted in multiple charity projects around the city. At a time when the fashion industry is under more scrutiny than ever before in terms of its environmental impact, Chiuri was wise to create a collection inspired by the natural world.

Unsurprisingly, the collection also featured a feminist edge which has become synonymous with Maria Grazia Chiuri. This year, the figure inspiring Chiuri was Christian Dior's sister, Catherine, who endured capture and torture in a German concentration camp to return to Paris and become the first woman to hold a florist's licence, represented in the use of petals stitched onto canvas suits and appliqué blooms blossoming from Hessian maxi skirts and pinafores. The front row was also filled with powerful women to enforce the ‘sisterhood’.

Ralph and Russo (RTW)

Although not necessarily the most documented show of the season, Ralph and Russo show was a firm favourite for many. Said to be inspired by Miami Beach, Tamara Ralph offered a luxe wardrobe to cater for the needs of glamorous globetrotters, pairing chunky trainers and fuzzy slides with silk kimonos and trim minidresses in pastel hues.

Loreal x Karl Lagerfeld

The Loreal x Karl Lagerfeld collaboration is a project Lagerfeld initiated before his sudden death in February and has been designed to channel the designer’s “rock-chic style” and “sense of Parisian elegance”, created with the aim of extending the Parisian look to every woman.

Lagerfeld is said to have sketched the initial ideas for the collection, such as the monochrome packaging before the cosmetics company worked with the designer’s team to finalise the products.

In typical Channel fashion, the launch of the collection was no small affair, consisting of a star-filled runway show with women such as Helen Mirren, Cheryl, Camila Cabello and Gigi Hadid all endorsing the brand.

Chanel

Although the Chanel show was, as always, undeniably beautiful, it was however somewhat overshadowed by a stage invader who climbed from the crowd to brazenly join models on the runway. Post-show, the woman known as Marie S’Infiltre said the stunt was an act to bring joy back into fashion. Talking to the Independent, Marie explains ‘“It has to be joyful, it has to be funny, it has to make people happy. And I think nowadays fashion doesn’t make people happy. It makes people ridiculous and pretentious.” (Independent, online, 2019). Funny? Perhaps not. Memorable? Most definitely.