From January 16th to 21st was Autumn/Winter Paris Men’s Fashion Week 2024. There were 42 different shows and 32 presentations. This week focused on Men’s fashion collections showcasing men’s ready-to-wear collections from various designers. Luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, Dior Homme, and Valentino displayed their looks. Following Men’s Fashion Week was Spring/Summer 2024 Paris Haute Couture Week, concentrating on high-end custom-fitted fashion from January 22nd until January 25th. Couture Fashion Week highlighted exclusive designs from renowned couturiers, opening with Schiaparelli and closing with Maison Margiela. These shows give a glimpse into the future, unveiling upcoming fashion trends and demonstrating what’s set to dominate fashion in the upcoming Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter seasons. While I may not be Anna Wintour, I have spent my time scrolling through, looking at each outfit, and watching clips of each show to provide you with my summary and review of January’s Paris Fashion Week.
The outfits showcased in Men’s Fashion Week blended understated outfits with elegance and featured pops of vibrant colors. Louis Vuitton Menswear depicts a Western cowboy aesthetic featuring boots, belts, cowboy hats, and denim – a classic representation of masculinity for Men’s Fashion Week, as Vogue noted. Dior Homme took their runway to new heights with a circular spinning stage where models stood, and the stage moved in circles. Honestly, watching it made me feel a little dizzy, but it was very interesting.
Several looks had pieces and outfits that were casual but relaxed, resembling items one might see in men’s everyday closets, such as outfits from Auralee, Hed Mayner, Officine Gereale, and Issey Miyake. In contrast, Rick Owen’s collection was anything but conventional, featuring the models wearing oversized puffer jackets that looked like protective cocoons, standing out from the usual beauty standards of Men’s Fashion Week. The collection pays homage to the designer’s hometown and marked 25 years in the industry.
Overall, my favorite shows and looks were from Loewe, Kenzo, Kidsuper, Balmain Homee, and Amiri. Balmain, in particular, showcased their outfits adorned with many prints of lips and eyes on printed shirts and even shoes. The designer Rousteing collaborated with artists from Ghana and Cameroon to put their images on clothes and turn suitcases into stylish accessories. The Balmain show also had gold accents, gold coats, face sculptures, chains, a briefcase, and even a gold helmet.
Other shows had different twists. The Kidsuper catwalk featured clothes unraveling as the model walked down the runway. It was a captivating display of fashion in motion
On the other hand, Couture Fashion Week had a spectacular display of bold outfits, with designer unleashing their creativity to the fullest. The week opened up with Schiaparelli with the theme of the past and future. Each piece had so much thought behind it, not only in Schiaparelli’s collection but in every collection.
Sohee Park’s collection amazingly reinvented textiles sourced from vintage Korean garments. Drawing from the designer’s cultural roots, they were retranslated into embroidery in her dresses. Additionally, she was inspired by voluminous Korean hanbok skirts for the dresses in her collection.
Fendi’s collection was visually surprising as it looked like a fur collection. However, the coats and dresses were cleverly made of metallic fibers to look like fur. This was shocking as the items did look like fur to me.
In his collection called Aarohanam, Gaurav Gupta added a special touch of using corsetry wire to create shaping volume in his clothing and allusions such as big waves in a sky blue or a red flame gown with a skirt that looked like a red eruption. Among the standout collections were Juana Martín, Rahul Hishra, Elie Saab, and Zuhair Murad, which left my jaw on the floor.
But overall, Georges Hobeika’s Collection left a lasting impression with genuinely refined and beautiful designs. The collection is inspired by and pays homage to Arabian culture. Elements of the designer’s childhood nostalgia with vibrant aspects of the culture and nostalgia of the region from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The details were excellent, such as models wearing coffee cup earrings and symbols for Lebanese social gatherings traditionally used to predict good fortune. Additionally, the matching gloves and handbags added a stunning touch of elegance.
Each week had amazing outfits, but the details in the Couture Fashion Week amazed me. The designer’s ability to weave their cultures into their creations was outstanding. Each outfit told a unique story, adding an excellent fashion narrative that celebrates diversity and elevates each piece’s artistry. In essence, these fashion weeks have not only forecasted upcoming trends but have also celebrated innovation in the industry, leaving me eagerly waiting for the designs the seasons ahead will bring!