Paris Couture Week is one of the more special events on the global fashion calendar.
It’s basically where designers get to let their creativity totally explode, where fashion is art and art is fashion, where huge statements are made and the creative leads behind some of the world’s biggest fashion houses really work their magic to make you feel something.
Nope, you probably won’t be wearing any of Paris Couture Week’s outrageous, over the top creations anytime soon—these works of art are typically one-offs reserved for the likes of Celine Dion, Anna Wintour’s guest list for the Met Gala and Lady Gaga (definitely some contenders for her Oscar’s outfit here).
Even so, the underlying vision in these collections, alongside the absolute mastery of design and craftsmanship, is always telling for what’s to come, where fashion is moving and where the world is at.
Here’s what went down, what we loved and a few big and bold ideas we’re ready to take on now.
Meme Dresses
Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren, AKA Viktor & Rolf, sent a set of 21 oversized outrageous gowns down the runway, each slashed with corny one-liner Instagram captions. The duo, known for creating couture that comments on the excessive nature of couture, created more blissful irony in layers (and layers) of about 8km of punchy, colourful tulle.
Titled "Fashion Statements", the collection was a natural hit on the internet, with fashion editors and influencers posting pics of the overblown slogan dresses beside hashtags like #mood and #same. Speaking to WWD, Snoeren said the aim was to create a "strange contradiction" and to highlight of some of the banal and surface deep elements of Instagram and internet culture. Yes Viktor & Rolf, we're on board for fashion statements and slogan tees calling for a bit more depth in our overall existence.
Viktor & Rolf Spring 2019 Couture
Future forward
Fashion loves to inject a little science fiction into our wardrobes from time to time. In 2019, it's part cyborg, part gamer battlefield, part prep for some sort of post-apocalyptic lifestyle.
Olivier Rousteing decided to reignite Balmain's haute couture atelier after the fashion house's 16-year hiatus from the program. Loosely titled "Dreams Come True", the collection featured a tonne of futuristic-looking hats and sharp suits I'm sure Lady Gaga would be into, some silver opera-style goggles and a whole lot of potentially controversial body paint. In Rousteing's future, we'll dress as edgy, ethereal future beings in glorious pleats, soft pastels and glittering crystals. TBC on the face paint.
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Image credit: Balmain Spring 2019 Couture.