Fashion
7 Fall Couture Runway Trends That Have Us Swooning
The best looks from the catwalks of Paris
Unlike the semiannual fashion weeks that take place in February and September, Couture Week is all about fantasy. More like works of art than clothes for real life, couture collections highlight designers' creativity, push the envelope in terms of innovation, and bask in the spotlight for one-of-a-kind designs that often don't even make it to the production stage. Outrageous silhouettes, unexpected fabrics, and trains for days make up for the less-than-practical wear and provide the foundation for one aspirational and dreamy showcase that you don't want to miss.
This season, couture designers had a little more fun than usual, infiltrating the usual slew of breathtakingly beautiful and elevated gowns with surprisingly wearable looks. Think: not your father's pantsuits, relaxed fits, and colorways that went beyond metallics. Signaling the return of the age of opulence, gilded fabrics, oversized details, and over-the-top silhouettes sauntered down the runways, adding glamour to this already-extravagant affair.
See our favorite fashion trends from Paris 2016 Couture Week in the gallery below.
Warrior Princess
A dozen of Khaleesi look-alikes marched down the runways, commanding all to bow down and surrender to the beauty. Equal parts ornate and fierce, the embellished gowns, Samurai-like pantsuits, and floor-grazing capes slayed. Power dressing has never looked this fantastical.
Atelier Versace
Jean Paul Gaultier
Givenchy
Fendi
Elie Saab
Drama Club
Designers went literal this season, borrowing from the pages of William Shakespeare’s, Charles Dickens’, and Victor Hugo’s novels for character inspiration. High Victorian collars, Elizabethan ruffs, and even a Wellington boot made for the war trenches ruled the catwalk with looks calling to mind chic vagabonds, fashion-forward priests, and rebellious soldiers.
Giambattista Valli
Viktor & Rolf
Valentino
Maison Margiela
Giles
Natural World
Designers heard the call of the wild this season and sent models, clad in animal style and showcasing elements of nature, down the runway. From animal prints to earthy textures and 3-D botanical embellishments, this season was all about nature's best. Welcome to the jungle, indeed.
Elie Saab
Zuhair Murad
Jean Paul Gaultier
Iris van Herpen
Giles
Hands Down
All hands were on deck in creating sleeves for days. Not conducive to any basic activities involving hands, many models boasted extra-long sleeves that grazed past fingertips—some even past knees. With something as structurally stunning as this, who needs to eat or text anyway?
Maison Margiela
Ronald van der Kemp
Alexis Mabille
J. Mendel
Christian Dior
DIY
With couture known for its exquisitely crafted dresses, the most surprising trend came in the form of pieces that looked like they underwent a DIY clothing hack. From hardware-embellished jeans and utilitarian pants to patchwork dresses and deconstructed silhouettes, the layered pieces looked anything but unpolished—and will get you in the mood to pull out your sewing kit.
Alexandre Vauthier
Viktor & Rolf
Schiaparelli
Ronald van der Kemp
Atelier Versace
Square Off
There was nothing square about the geometric necklines that were showcased this season. Boasting structure, simplicity, and ladylike perfection, these looks would make even your unabashedly chic grandma proud.
Ulyana Sergeenko
Schiaparelli
Giambattista Valli
Christian Dior
Chanel
Weight Of The World On The Shoulders
This season saw the return of the Renaissance woman, equipped with oversized puff sleeves and an attitude to match. High-volume sleeves were paired with velvet fabrics, while unexpected details, like spikes, rounded out the modernized silhouette. These looks were made for giving the cold shoulder.
Armani Privé
Valentino
Giles
Giambattista Valli
