Well, we've come to the final stop on our Fashion Month tour, and, as expected, Paris has provided us with quite the grand finale for this Fall/ Winter season.
Paris Fashion Week is always my favorite part of Fashion Month. With some of the oldest and most iconic fashion houses in the world, they just have the best understanding of how to create stunning collections and amazing shows even with restrictions placed upon them. Just like the previous cities, Paris opted for a virtual fashion week, but this did not stop designers from giving us that "wow factor" we've come to expect from the City of Lights. Just like the preceding cities, I'm reviewing my favorites below.
Chloé
What better way to present a F/W Ready-to-Wear collection than with the streets of Paris as your backdrop? This is exactly what Chloé did, and it was stunning! This collection was full of feminine, boho pieces that added a bit more beauty to the streets of Paris. The collection was full of earthy tones which was appropriate because it was eco-friendly. It was also the first for new creative director, Gabriela Hearst, who wanted to give a nod to old Chloé pieces, but add her own unique touch. Personally, I don't know much about the brand's past, but based off what I've seen from Hearst's first collection, I can't wait to see what they do in the future. In the meantime, I've been inspired to add more boho and sustainable pieces to my wardrobe!
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Chloé Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Hermès
As someone who still claims to be a New Yorker at heart (let's ignore the fact that I only lived there for about 6 months), I love when collections are sleek and have a lot of all black outfits, so I loved the Hermès collection for F/W '21. The virtual show opened with a livestream of dancers performing in New York. They danced very energetically in chic black turtlenecks and long black skirts. It reminded me of Audrey Hepburn's iconic dance number in Funny Face, and we all know I live for any Audrey references whether they were intentional or not. From there, the livestream began in Paris where the collection was shown off. It was full of many basic, neutral pieces. Creative director, Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski wanted to create a collection for whatever the Hermès customer would be doing next Fall. While the hope is to be back to normal, she imagined her collection in more intimate social settings. The presentation ended with another dance number. This time livestreamed from Shanghai. I loved the three different livestreams because it was a reminder that both dance and fashion are a universal language which is simply beautiful.
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Hermès Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Elie Saab
If you combine feminine elegance with a sense of drama, then you have Elie Saab's F/W '21 Ready-to-Wear collection. As someone who categorizes herself as a glam girl, to say I was obsessed would be an understatement. The collection included chic little black dresses, check pieces that Emily from Emily in Paris would be envious of, embellished blazer sets, and some of the most gorgeous gowns I've ever seen. Basically, it's my dream collection if I was a glamourous socialite in Paris. (It would be my dream collection now if I had anywhere to wear it). The way it was presented was quite picturesque. Models walked along the water where you could see their reflection. It was peaceful, but also showed off the clothing more. As I watched I truly imagined myself walking through Paris in the clothing. I mean, a girl can dream.
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Elie Saab Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Christian Dior
Christian Dior has always been one of my favorite fashion houses. As a brand, they have truly mastered dressing women in an elegant way, but what I love most about them is how their collections are presented at PFW. The Dior shows are always a production that tells a story, and every detail is amazingly thought out. As expected, their presentation for their F/W '21 Ready-to-Wear collection was no different. In the brand's fashion film, we enter The Palace of Versailles, but not as we know it. The gorgeous palace was turned into a dark, eerie setting. It felt like a fairytale gone wrong. This was exactly creative director, Maria Grazia Chuiri's intention, even entitling the film Disturbing Beauty. According to Vogue Runway, her inspiration came from fairytales such as Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, and Sleeping Beauty, and their obsession with appearance over character. This is reflected with the use of the thorn filled mirrors, and how the dancers in the film are drawn to them. The clothing looks like what a fairytale character would wear in modern day, but with a darker twist. This being said, the pieces wear definetley wearable, and I wanted most of them for myself. I could even imagine myself breaking a prince's heart in the stunning red gown that was the finale piece. I mean if you're going to romanticize your life, it might as well be in Dior!
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Christian Dior Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Balmain
So, I have a confession. I have always been a bit envious of celebrities that could step off a plane looking absolutely fabulous. I truly think it's a talent, but it has never inspired me enough to swap out a sweatshirt and leggings for a chic and trendy outfit. However, the Balmain F/W '21 Ready-to-Wear presentation has inspired me to change that. For the designer, Olivier Rousteing, this collection was all about the excitement of the journey, not the destination. For his video presentation models walked throughout an airport, looking amazing in chic stripe tops, aviation inspired pieces, and even fun, space-travel inspired outfits. As the video continues, the final destination is revealed to be a runway in space. The entire presentation was exciting and made me feel hopeful for the day we can all travel again. While the exact date for that may be up in the air, I'm going to go ahead and start planning some cute airport 'fits. As for my destination, that's still TBD.
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Balmain Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Chanel
Another part of life that I've missed during this pandemic is getting dressed up and going out. There was always something that felt so special about a night out, and I long for that feeling. Chanel perfectly embodied that for their F/W '21 Ready-to-Wear collection. The video started with women walking through Paris to enter a small, but chic club, and a montage of them getting ready and touching up their makeup. From there they strutted in modern takes of Chanel's iconic tweed coats and dropped them off at a coat check to reveal gorgeous chiffon pieces. Chanel's artistic director, Virginie Viard, was also inspired by Chanel moments from the past, including both icon Stella Tennant and the 1994 fall collection. I personally, loved this collection. The marriage of chiffon and tweed was a modern take on the brand's iconic image, and I could imagine it-girls all over the world wearing these outfits on a night out. I would love to wear one myself, but until the day comes when I can afford Chanel (and it will), I'll be looking for pieces with a similar look for my next night out. Hopefully, that will be in the near future.
Watch It Here: Brand Page – Paris Fashion Week (fhcm.paris)
Photo and Additional Information: Chanel Fall 2021 Ready-to-Wear Collection | Vogue
Like I said at the beginning of this post, Paris was the grand finale we all expected. Many designers brought back hope and excitement for the future with their virtual presentations. There have been many times in this pandemic where I felt like my career was getting pulled out from under me (seriously, it's been a hard time to want to become a fashion show producer), but seeing all the presentations from Fashion Month, I've realized that opportunity is still out there. While, I sadly can't get on a plane and fly out to any of these Fashion capitals, I can still create. Let's hope that soon we can all be vaccinated and return to in-person shows. In the meantime, I'll keep brainstorming fashion show concepts. Who knows you might see something from me sooner rather than later!
To experience PFW for yourself: Home - Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode (fhcm.paris)
XOXO,
Kristin
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