When Fashionologie Editor Christina Perez headed to Paris Fashion Week, she packed a suitcase full of bold stripes, fur stoles, and embellished tops. So how exactly does she put it all together? Watch as Christina shows us her top looks, parfait for running from show to show and reporting from the front lines of the City of Light.
Paris Fashion Week is the crème de la crème of Fashion Weeks, so naturally, dressing for the shows deserves extra attention. Our style director, Noria Morales, shares with us three of her favorite looks that took her around the City of Light, from Dior to Lanvin to Ladurée, in style — plus, a few key tips to help you nail that editor look on your own (hint: invest in some classic pumps and a statement necklace!).
There's no doubt that the City of Light turned on the sizzle factor with a bevy of sexy dresses from the likes of Alexander McQueen, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Giambattista Valli. From sheer layers to corsets and barely there lace, we couldn't stop staring — or daydreaming — over these gorgeous confections. We scoured the best of the best from the runways for you to check out — see all the sexiest looks from Paris and tell us which look is your favorite.
That's a wrap on Paris Fashion Week. But before we return to regular programming (read: concern ourselves with what we're wearing this Fall), we're delving deeper into the most noteworthy trends to take the Spring '13 Paris runways. Designers like Dries van Noten, Chloé, Vanessa Bruno projected seasonal romance via ultratextured florals, flirty ruffles, and downright feminine nods to sheer detailing. Apart from the softer wares, we saw a push for shorter hemlines on top — sometimes endowed with very voluminous shapes — along with a revamped take on denim, a cool reimagining of colorblocked styling, and more than one case made for wearing the prettiest shades of blue. See which designers were feeling the tomboyish look of long shorts, who (successfully) managed to combine sheer accents with a sportier brand of cool, and who brought back the Working Girl double-breasted blazer in full effect. Get our complete breakdown of the top 10 trends spotted at Paris Fashion Week right here, right now.
Elie Saab might be known for his gorgeous red carpet gowns, but for Spring '13, the designer also showed off his penchant for daywear. The show opened up with an array of sleek work appropriate trousers, tailored blazers, silk blouses, and sleek sheath dresses fit for the working "heiress" he had in mind. Bold, abstract prints came into play, highlighting highlighting billowy dresses and gowns, some of which featured modern ribbon detailing. And like any working heiress (Saab mentioned artists and bloggers in his show notes), a day is not complete without attending a few glamorous parties and events. Thus, he provided red carpet worthy options with a bevy of gorgeous sheer lace gowns, one of which showcased a high slit juxtaposed against a sheer collared top, and beaded minidresses.
Miuccia Prada delved into the past, specifically the '50s, for Miu Miu's effortlessly ladylike Spring '13 collection. "It's elegance done a different way," said Prada. With that notion in mind, she created impossibly refined dark denim skirt suits paired with crop tops and point-toe pumps, pencil skirts with patent jackets, and smart shift dresses worn under long car coats — all accessorized with leather gloves and fold-over satchels to complete the composed feminine look. While fur is not usually associated with Spring collections, Prada broke the barriers with an assortment of fur stoles slung over the shoulder and colored fur coats. Meanwhile, textural pieces, like the crinkled skirts and tops and dimensional abstract prints, showed off a modern element in Prada's chic offerings. Most notable was the forest-green car coat paired with the patent tan-colored pencil skirt — easy, unfussy, with just the right amount of panache.
Check out all the pictures from Louis Vuitton's Spring 2013 collection, and come back soon for our full review.
Sarah Burton's Spring '13 collection for Alexander McQueen was quite literally buzzing with excitement. With models decked out in elaborate honeycomb beekeeper hats, Burton created a truly masterful collection, inspired by Alberto Vargas's pinup images, filled with dramatic hoopskirts, ornate detailing, and some of the most inventive looks we've seen yet. It was a dramatic entrance as the show opened up with cropped honeycomb trousers paired with a gold peplum jacquard blazer — accessorized with gorgeous amber-hued jewelry reminiscent of bee nectar. More sweetness followed suit highlighting fit-and-flare skirts, resin bustiers, structured mesh tops, and hot shorts all featuring Burton's bee theme. Watching the collection go down the aisle was like studying art, further exemplified by Burton's impressive array of evening wear. Corset minidresses were paired up with netted thigh-high boots, billowy off-shoulder renditions revealed a honeycomb bodice underneath, and the grand finale, a showstopping array of red, yellow, and black crinoline gowns, simply took our breath away. Indeed, there's no question that Paris saved the best for last.
Paul & Joe designer Sophie Albou crafted a collection that made us yearn for the carefree days of Summer. Marked by a warm palette of colorful prints, then juxtaposed against a crisp set of collared white blouses, tapered trousers, and long tomboyish shorts, it felt all at once beachy, youthful, and very chic. What caught our eye most, though — because let's face it, it was a very pretty lineup — were the oversize two-tone knit tops made for a chilly evening, the baseball jackets reworked with pale blue railroad stripes and floral-printed shoulder details, and the silver metallic minidress that was equal parts formal and laid-back against a sporty denim jacket. This is the kind of Spring '13 collection that never tried to be anything but playful and sweet, and sometimes that's all you really need when constructing your warm-weather wardrobe.
After the paparazzi calmed down from Jennifer Lopez's hot-pink front-row appearance at Valentino's Spring '13 show, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli were ready to start the show. While we come to expect nothing less than feminine, ladylike looks from the brand, the designing duo injected a dose of modernity into the collection, as models walked out in see-through plastic trenchcoats and leather dresses. Chiuri and Piccioli's take on sheer was done in the most beautiful manner: blouses and skirts were layered over lace slips, while gorgeous gowns showcased impeccable floral beading on diaphanous layers. The story continued with stunning white guipure lace dresses and skirt, effortlessly elegant slipdresses, and, of course, the red-carpet-worthy gowns. This time, Chiuri and Piccioli created an exciting array of lace gowns featuring whimsical contrasting collars and beaded embroidery. Feminine, flattering, and breathtaking — we're already counting down the days until Anne Hathaway wears yet another one of these magical creations.
