Paris Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2023(Women's)
Source: Kiki Kitsinis
After a month of fashion showcasing some of the most influential and iconic designer brands on the runway, that’s a wrap for Paris Fashion Week’s Fall/Winter 2023. Whether you’re looking for eccentric prints, well-calculated or sophisticated looks, you’ve come to the right place! The recurring themes at this season’s shows were celebrating women and French style, paying homage to the past and paving the way for the future of fashion.
Here’s our roundup of some of the best women’s looks on the runway from March 1st through the 7th!
D I O R
Dior did not disappoint this season. The luxury brand showcased some of the most iconic looks of the week, displaying a scenographic installation forming the backdrop entitled “Valkyrie Miss Dior.” Artist Joana Vasconcelos created the backdrop by drawing on the brand’s past and transitioning into its future.
Creative Director Maria Grazia Chiuri drew inspiration for the collection from influential women throughout history, debuting arguably her strongest show to date, according to an article from AnOther Magazine.
“How can we go back to something familiar, but make it different?” This is what Chiuri tasked herself with this season.
Her collection pays tribute to three 1950s French icons who challenged female stereotypes of that time period: the original Miss Dior, Catherine Dior, actress and singer Juliette Greco, and singer Edith Piaf.
B A L M A I N
Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain is another brand that demonstrated how minimalism can be achieved while also implementing eye-catching details. The looks we saw on the runway were intimate and elegant, but also striking and timeless.
“Crafting the future by respecting the past” was Rousteing’s theme, designing the collection around “four pillars: timeless design, exceptional craftsmanship, sharp silhouettes, and a New French Style.” Rousteing made sure his vision “exuded Balmain’s spirit,” paying homage to founder Pierre Balmain and his legacy.
S T E L L A M C C A R T N E Y
It’s safe to say Stella McCartney’s “Horse Power” collection is for the (horse) girls. That’s not entirely a joke; there were horses alongside the models as they walked the runway! Much of Stella McCartney’s collection included the animal so many love. This was a collection from the week that went above and beyond with creativity. The hair and makeup were both natural, easily achieving the no-makeup, makeup look so as not to take the attention from the spectacular clothing.
Did we mention that seven live horses ran out to disco music before being wrangled up into a line as the runway models began their walks?
“There’s so much leather and feather and fur on the runway, especially in winter, and I just wanted to show that you can do it in a different way. You don’t have to kill anything.” - Stella McCartney
B A L E N C I A G A
Following the controversy of their disturbing ad campaign in November, creative director Demna definitely had lots of eyes on him at his show. Showcasing the first collection since the scandal, Balenciaga kept their 54 looks minimalistic, featuring no major celebrities on the runway. Not to mention the celebrity attendance at the show was quite low.
Demna focused on the fashion rather than his usual provocative approach, explaining that fashion has become “a kind of entertainment, but often that part overshadows the essence of it.”
“There will be nothing to see but clothes. I need to be the radical antidote — to not be in that conversation at all. That’s what Cristóbal Balenciaga would do.” - Demna
C H L O É
Following along with the recurring theme of celebrating women seen at Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks, Chloé’s creative director Gabriela Hearst drew inspiration for her third collection from the work of 17th century female painter Artemisia Gentileschi. The looks on the runway displayed a colorful yet modern vibe; rounded sleeves, intricate patterns along with statement bags. The whole shebang was definitely one of the more extravagant collections of the season. Hearst wanted to tell overlooked women’s stories and honor their contributions through her collection.
Hearst’s Fall/Winter collection pays homage not only to Gentileschi herself, but also her painting entitled “Esther Before Ahauserus.” The dress was handcrafted by women of a program located in Mumbai’s Byculla area known as the Chanayka International embroidery studio. The program gives hand embroidery training to women from low-income communities.
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