Gird your loins, as the most fabulous time of the year has arrived: Paris Couture Week has officially started this Monday, June 24 and we are eager to see what the designers have come up with. It seems this season, designers have stepped up their game more than usual — reawakening fashion with their thought-through creations that in some cases do not seem to be from this planet.
There are two main themes observed this season, from the subtle connections to the Paris Olympics to transcending the human body, focusing on ideas beyond our perceived reality.
Here is everything you missed at Paris Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 24/25 Week…
Schiaparelli
One of the most anticipated shows this week has been the Schiaparelli show under the creative direction of Daniel Roseberry, who continues to keep the spirit of the fashion house alive with his dramatic and artistic creations. Opening this year’s Haute Couture Week with “The Phoenix”, encompassing feathers on sculptural silhouettes that had every row from front to back in awe of the creative genius, guaranteed for a spectacular start to the season.
Iris Van Herpen
As one of fashion’s most forward-thinking designers, Iris Van Herpen never fails to thrill her followers with her avant-garde creations. This season’s Hybrid show transformed the collection’s performers into living sculptures. The designs were inspired by the book An Immense World, How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us by Ed Yong and intend to show that we, as human beings can only tap into a small fraction of reality’s fullness.
Georges Hobeika
The Lebanese Maison’s “Nocturnal Garden” draws inspiration from its Arab heritage referencing the glamour and beauty of Middle Eastern women mending traditional influences such as fringed and classic embellishments with modern silhouettes.
Christian Dior
Inspired by the exhibition L’Olympisme – Une Invention Moderne, Un Heritage Antique displayed at the Louvre, Maria Grazia Chiuri took athletic chic to new heights. Drawing inspiration from the Olympic’s Grecian origin, the silhouettes featured free-flowing fabrics. A fabric that usually doesn’t make it on couture catwalks: Jersey. In Dior’s case, the material has been combined with mesh in golden and silver hues creating body-caressing bustiers.
Rahul Mishra
The predominantly black and greyscale designed collection draws inspiration from auras. To be a complete jiva (in Indian philosophical meaning, an individual self), means to consist of a body, mind and soul, all three of which result in an aura, according to the designer. The couture collection aims to represent how the human body becomes a vessel for different energies and how they interact with its surrounding aura. During the show, Bollywood actress, Janhi Kapoor made her debut on the catwalk in a beautifully hand-embellished ensemble.
Thom Browne
Attending a Thom Brown show is similar to reconnecting with an old friend after a couple of years of not seeing each other. Known traits we love and cherish spiced up with new adventures and plots. In this case: The continuous deconstruction of the classic suit jacket yet in new exciting ways. Shades of beige and creme with pops of red and blue. A reminder of the upcoming Paris Olympics with three models in almost identical outfits with only different blazers, one in bronze, one in silver and one in golden hues, taking their place on the different steps of a podium. How Thom, how chic.
Giambattista Valli
Known for its extravagant tulle creations, the house of Giambattista Valli showed again the netting this season in light layers and colours. We spotted multiple off-the-shoulder moments, peplums and 3D-floral inspired shapes, Indian flowers and more.
Chanel
The prestigious couture house had to undergo a grave change after Virginie Viard announced her departure as creative director from the brand. However, this did not stop the Chanel couture show from once again being one of the most anticipated catwalks during Paris Haute Couture Week. Many industry experts call this show taking place at the Paris Opera Garnier the best couture collection the brand has shown in years. Crystal studded gowns, the classic Tweed beautifully reinterpreted and oversized black bows as hair accessories. This show paid homages to the Maison’s heritage, with Gabrielle Chanel being responsible for the costumes for the ballets “Le Train Bleu” (1924) and “Apollon Musagète” (1928).
Featured Image: @ChanelOfficial, @ThomBrowne & @Dior
