Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023

Sponsored

Each of the four fashion month cities represents a distinct archetype: London, which features a plethora of up-and-coming labels, is the trendsetting vanguard whose style skews more experimental; Milan is the wiser elder sister with a closet of trustworthy and elegant basics; and then there’s Paris. The city of lights is an effective blend of each personality, traditional and modern, polished but always party-ready. And the top outfits from Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2023, in particular, are proof of that.

From Dior’s homage to French royalty with structured corsetry and grandiose gowns to Saint Laurent’s sultry jersey dresses with chest-baring cutouts, scroll on to see my favorite moments from Paris Fashion Week. Stay tuned to this space for more standout runway moments as the shows progress.

Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton always ends the week on a high note, capping off a month of unending catwalks. So, how can we keep the excitement flowing while still providing a new perspective? This season, creative director Nicolas Ghesquière scrutinized the Vuitton leather goods mainstays of zippers, clasps, buckles, and belts.

With enormous zippers running up skirts, dresses, and jackets, proportion play was the word of the game. Long peacoats sagged with gigantic buttons, and bows were stretched. The ’60s-inspired tweed pants and patchwork leather minidresses will be instant bestsellers, with Ghesqiuère self-referencing previous collections, purposefully recreating old concepts while remaining contemporary.

Miu Miu

Miuccia Prada understands how much (or how little) we want to dress right now. She’s been on the money for the previous several seasons, detecting how women (and men) dress and gradually pushing their look farther.

The collection began with four basic cotton items stacked on top of each other and progressed to sun-faded denim suits, distressed leather, giant cargo pockets on nylon trenches, micro miniskirts (they’re not going away anytime soon), and bra tops. Sheer knit sweater-skirt combos and some fairly fanciful beaded co-ords completed the vibe we were going for.

Chanel

Virginie Viard’s SS23 collection can be summed up in two words: Chanel. The color palettes, styles, and decorations were all amazingly on-brand for the renowned company that has represented Parisian elegance for so many seasons and decades.

Whether it was a subtle political remark or simply Chanel’s delicate essence, the clothing had a feminine theme. Viard introduced a whimsical sophistication to this season’s items, from pink houndstooth and soft orange gingham to polka dots and sequined bows.

Stella McCartney

Stella regained her rhythm, literally. Outside in the public area at the Centre Pompidou, the designer displayed her collection made up of 87 percent recycled materials, her most ecological yet. She even took it back to her days as a designer at Chloé in the early 2000s.

As the overall Y2K obsession hits fever pitch, McCartney shows us how to do it right with relaxed denim and tracksuits, opulent oversized suiting with diamanté bras, and casual pastel dresses that might match with something edgier or something even more casual (say, flip-flops?). Slim, clean, and ready to hit the streets.

Givenchy

Givenchy’s SS23 show was held in a park that had recently been rained on. With Kanye West and Karlie Kloss in attendance (with the Hadid sisters walking), design director Matthew Williams offered up outfits that put a refined twist on streetwear trends.

The color black was prominent in the generally neutral range, although patterned denim and splashes of color, such as a lime green slip or purple cocktail dress, were also included. Other prominent fashions included cargo trousers and shorts, ruching, and buckles—because the metal had to be included.

Coperni

Unless you’re on a social media fast, you’ve definitely seen Bella Hadid having her outfit spray-painted before walking the Coperni runway. “This is crazy,” one person said, while another said, “Paris Fashion Week is done,

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Beckham’s SS23 collection represented an outstanding milestone for the designer, who emotionally took the stage after the show in an inspirational PFW debut.

The designs were sensual, charming, and a little bit subversive, expressing a whimsical elegance befitting a number of ladies, or a lady with multitudes. The key standouts were perfectly frayed ruffles, sheer (or backless) jackets, and gorgeously draped tassels, which were worn with latex opera gloves and brand leggings. Although this is hardly Beckham’s first rodeo, Paris can be just as wild, and we have a hunch she’ll stay in the saddle.

Issey Miyake

Issey Miyake’s business is built on innovation and wearability, and in the first collection exhibited following Miyake’s death in August, the team demonstrated the highest respect for that ambition.

Satoshi Kondo, who was designated design director in 2019, has maintained a commitment to the Miyake ideology while finding his own methods to integrate himself into the company. Several looks, for example, were created entirely of plant-based polyester, a significant step forward given that it is devoid of fossil fuels. Other knit elements with intended irregularities and bumps helped to establish a Miyake design signature: flexibility. In the brand’s quest to make room for joy in life by removing the burden of dressing, it also succeeded to bring joy back into the dressing.

Loewe

Isabel Marant

Isabel Marant’s spring/summer 2023 show in Paris had a heavy touch of Y2K. There were low-rise cargo and leather pants combined with crochet shirts and boho flower designs with late-2000s styles. The designer retained the stylish effortlessness that has always been the trademark of her creations throughout.