Et voilà, another Fashion Month is wrapping up to a close, and as the stylish crowds pack away their best for another season (see you again in September!), we’ve been recapping the some of the most unforgettable fashion moments from the City of Light. While we’re still thinking about Copenhagen’s Di(vision) tablecloth dress, New York’s star studded runway, and London‘s jaw-dropping Dilara Findikoglu show, Paris got off to a stellar start with iconic moments from Harris Reed, whose Nina Ricci debut was a kaleidoscope of colour, texture and supersized silhouettes, and Stella McCartney, who took her love of horse emblems to a whole new level by presenting her show on a dirt covered runway while white stallions walked alongside models. If you hadn’t already noticed, Paris doesn’t do things by halves.
Paris’ packed roster of runway shows and presentations always serves as the fashionable final stop to Fashion Month’s global tour, and is the perfect time to reflect on four jam-packed weeks of inspiration. In between the viral moments (Emma Corrin’s Miu Miu debut, Coperni’s dog robot and Zendaya, Zendaya, Zendaya) were some standout runway looks that were so impactful, we’re confident we’ll be seeing them time and time again. From the new tailored trouser set to replace the wide-leg, to the under-the-radar colour trend that’s about to be everywhere, we’ve studied the runways to bring you the seven trends from Paris fashion week that are about to have the biggest impact in spring 2023. Prepare to take notes.
Style Notes: It’s time to pack away your satin and sheer, because if you can depend on anything, it’s heavy duty fabrics for autumn/winter, and this year is set to be the return of sleek, sophisticated leather. Frankly, we can get behind any trend that looks equally polished come rain or shine.
Style Notes: If 2022 was the year of Barbie pink, prepare for 2023 to be red hot. Although it began filtering down through the A/W ’22 runways, it’s clear from just how many shows it made an appearance in (Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta, and David Koma to name a few,) that this fiery colour shows no signs of slowing down.
Style Notes: The unexpected breakout trend of Paris Fashion Week? Undoubtedly the tie. As everyone from Vivienne Westwood to Valentino showed suited and booted models in shirts and ties, they were almost always accompanied by a tailored waistcoat, and unlike the tie, this versatile piece can be worn casually with jeans and trainers or dressed up with a wide-leg trouser and heels.
Style Notes: Pinstripes, polka dots and florals may come and go, but checks are forever. Covering everything from sharp tailoring to mini dresses, and some particularly good coats courtesy of Akris, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent and Stella McCartney, if there is one coat to invest in this year, it’s worth “checking out”.
Style Notes: It wouldn’t be a new season without a brand new trouser trend, and after comfortably living in wide-leg trousers in the PS era (that’s post-skinny), the slim-leg is back, albeit a little roomier. The cigarette trouser is the slim, straight leg that sits high on the waist and crops at the ankle, and despite being a runway hit in Paris, it’s already showing up on the street-style set as well as on the high street.
Style Notes: Perhaps it’s my own subconscious talking, but there were one too many references to the Top Gun, jet-setting lifestyle to ignore on the autumn/winter runways. Cockpit-ready bomber jackets and aviator glasses were shown alongside Mame Kurochi’s slouchy knits and bum-bags worthy of a longhaul flight. Don’t believe me? Take a look at APC’s turned up collars and rolled up sleeves, and Chloé’s shearling-lined coats and tell me you don’t feel the need for speed.
Style Notes: It feels like it’s only been a couple of months since “micro mini” permanently entered our lexicon, and thanks to that Miu Miu skirt we thought we’d be talking about the teeny weeny hemline forever– but that was until Victoria Beckham and Saint Laurent came along and reminded us why we loved the pencil skirt in the first place (and even Miu Miu followed suit and dropped hem). The slinky, figure-hugging shape celebrates the female form, and looks ironically good paired with an oversized, masculine-inspired blazer. Mad Men, eat your heart out.
