Karine Laudort Paris Fashion Week is a highly anticipated event where the brains behind the brands, fashion moguls, supermodels, and influencers, come together to celebrate Haute couture and indulge in endless timeless looks created by the masterminds of high fashion. Fashion in France is an important subject in its culture, country’s social life and economy, so when fashion design became prominent in France during the 1500s, no wonder Paris now holds the name of the global fashion capital.
Fendi X Versace Collaboration
When two iconic Italian powerhouses join forces, you know it is going to be good. Both Fendi and Versace are staples in the Fashion industry and this collaboration brought classic 90’s supermodels from Kate Moss to Karen Elson, and the new age models like Precious Lee, together to display the collection that was inspired by that time of the ’90s (and it did not disappoint.)
With Kim Jones and Donatella Versace switching roles, we got to see a whole new side to Donatella who channelled a punk rock aesthetic with the signature Fendi classics embellished with Versace pins. With a unique blend of Fendi’s monogram print and Versace’s Greek Key and Baroque pattern, we got to see full fur and metal ensembles that displayed a fresh level of new age dualities and iconic 90’s influences. A stunning mix of both elegance and Italian decadence, this genius project gave us flamboyant prints and 90’s rock sensibility.
Naomi Campbell finished the show with a bedazzling metal gown with the staple monogram Fendi print all over.
Balmain and Olivier Rousteing 10 Year Anniversary
With Imaan Hammam opened the show with a simplistic but bold look that was effortlessly chic and sexy, followed by a parade of supermodels draped in black, white, red, and gold, giving a new meaning to high fashion. Stylish and opulent, Rousteing combined slinky low-cut dresses with giant chunky link chains, showcasing the looks that were built upon pain that he had encountered when he had a freak accident that resulted in him being badly burned and then wrapped in bandages for months after. You can see how he incorporated bandage looking garments within the show, ones like what he had to wear when dressing his burns.
Beyonce narrated the show with a monologue dedicated to Rousteing’s incredible impact on Balmain and the fashion industry.
“You brought a new mindset to help persuade fashion to finally begin to reflect the real true beauty of today’s streets, the beauty that you and your team see daily on the diverse impressive boulevards and avenues of your beloved Paris,”-
“And from day one, you did the right thing. You knew from the start that actions speak so much louder than words. So you’ve taken a stand, made the commitments and followed through at every step of the way.”
Beyonce, (to Olivier Rousteing during the SS22 Balmain Show.)
After an emotional speech, models took to the stage featuring gold galore upon a spectrum of body types which is not only refreshing but a giant step in the right direction. It is amazing to see that two of the most sought-after luxury Fashion Houses are being more inclusive to all shapes and sizes and we hope to see more at Balmain’s next show.
Balenciaga and The Simpsons Take Over
Balenciaga topped Paris Fashion Week off by launching their Spring Summer 2022 Collection with a fake red-carpet event and a short film showing the Simpsons characters dressed in the brand’s clothing. Demna Gvasalia is no stranger when it comes to experimenting with collection presentations, but this show aimed to challenge the typical conventions of fashion shows.
In the short film, we saw Homer Simpson worried about what to get his wife, Marge, for her birthday. He then wrote a letter to Gvasalia to gift Marge a Balenciaga gown for her birthday to which Gvasalia couldn’t resist and invited the whole town of Springfield to model his collection in Paris. We saw Anna Wintour in the animated version, sitting in the front row watching the likes of Moe the Bartender and Lisa Simpson.
Following the show weeks later, they have now released their SS22 collection with The Simpsons sporting Balenciaga fits on staple basic hoodies and t-shirts. It is not a surprise that Gvasalia had collaborated with Simpsons to give an expensive but tacky collection as he had done times before with the Nasa and Fortnite collab. Although, the short film (that nearly took a year to make) was a prominent favourite in Fashion week for sure.
All unique in their own ways, each designer pulled it out of the bag this year. From a luxury fashion house collaboration to our favourite cartoon characters making an appearance, this Spring Summer Paris Fashion Week will forever go down in history.
