These Are All the Best Shows From Paris Fashion Week SS20
From Dior’s stunning garden to Chanel’s rogue runway invader.
With Paris Fashion Week over, fashion month has officially come to a close. As one of the longest-running weeks of the season, Paris gave us nine action-packed days full of emerging design talents and heritage luxury brands. From New York’s Telfar Clemens’ eponymous brand’s Paris debut to grand spectacles from the likes of Chanel and Saint Laurent, there was no shortage of Instagrammable moments.
Scroll below for some of our Spring/Summer 2020 highlights from the French capital. Why not also revisit some of the most talked-about elements of the month, the best Parisian street style and our favorite hair and makeup looks.
Balenciaga
A fan of deviating from the norm, Demna Gvasalia‘s Balenciaga shows have become known for being an inspiring oddity in all aspects; set, beauty and of course, apparel and accessories. This season, models sported ultra-high, sharp prosthetic cheekbones as they walked around a circular, cobalt blue set, said to be inspired by the UN. Jackets with high backs, boxy silhouettes and of course, those show-stopping crinoline dresses which literally looked like oversized bells were key talking points. Our personal highlight, however, was the collaboration with Sanrio’s own Hello Kitty in the form of handbags which are sure to be a sellout success when the SS20 collection drops.
Chanel
Virginie Viard‘s first real solo show for Chanel without any input from the late Karl Lagerfeld was as true to the house codes as you’d imagine, confirming the designer who was by Lagerfeld’s side for years is the perfect person to take the reigns. As always, the spectacular set was a feat of engineering as the Grand Palais was transformed into the the roofs of Paris. While the collection itself, with its focus on the trademark tweed, standout accessories and elegant day and night looks that exude Parisian elegance was all very Chanel, the show did have one truly shocking moment. French actress and comedian Marie S’Infiltre hit headlines when she invaded the runway during the final walk, culminating with Gigi Hadid blocking and guiding the intruder off the runway.
Dior
Transforming a large venue into a woodland set that was inspired by Christian Dior’s sister’s fondness for the family garden. The space alone took a whopping two weeks to create, and the 170 trees that featured in it are being replanted in three locations across the city. For SS20, Maria Grazia Chiuri continued the floral theme from the set directly onto the collection, with floral shapes and motifs present throughout. Textured fabrics, embroidery and delicate watercolor-style prints added to the ethereal, yet natural feel, accentuated by accessories like raffia hats and rope-inspired belts.
Stella McCartney
Sustainability has become a buzzword as of late, but Stella McCartney is one luxury brand that’s kept this ethos at the forefront of its mind for quite some time. The SS20 collection is slated as the designer’s most sustainably-made collection yet with over 75% of the materials used noted as being eco-friendly. In true Stella style, the collection veered between easily-wearable chic everyday fits to more glamorous options, with the color palette ranging from neutrals to sky blue, bright green and deep orange. Patterns were also present throughout, adding some further depth to the collection in the form of ditzy florals and graphic stripes. A particular highlight were the caped shirts with scalloped hems and the baseball caps with a cutout, cage-like top.
Loewe
Alongside running his namesake label, JW Anderson serves as the Creative Director at Loewe where this season, he delivered one of his most exquisite collections to date. Inspired by handicrafts of the 16th and 17th centuries, Anderson turned his hand toward focusing on the littlest details that come alongside traditional lacework and fine embroidery. Fusing these historical techniques with more contemporary silhouettes like bralettes and sheer dresses with handkerchief hems, he continued to breathe new life into the Spanish luxury brand that he has been widely credited with reviving.
