By Roisin O’Dwyer
What is Paris Fashion Week?
Paris, as we know it, is a culturally evolving city, renowned for its historic monuments, museums, delicious food and prosperous businesses – but most importantly its breathtaking fashion. Many readers may have heard of Paris Fashion Week from movies such as The Devil Wears Prada, but could be unaware of what it actually means, and how it shapes fashion’s future every year. Paris Fashion Week is an exclusive event, which takes place in Paris, France. The BBC were told that the focus of the event was that it ‘allows some of the biggest and best fashion designers and celebrities around the world to gather and show off new clothing ideas for the year ahead, as well as some of their bold creative show pieces.’
What designers are featured this year?
This year, many significant designers that shape the world of fashion are displaying the artwork from their sensational brands, which include: Christian Dior, Saint Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Comme des Garcons, Alexander McQueen, Valentino, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Celine, and Miu Miu.
Spectating the sensational shows from the front rows include musicians, supermodels and Hollywood actors, including Natalie Portman, Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Naomi Campell and Gigi Hadid. Anticipation is high this season as the audience awaits the magnificent display of fashion’s future from top brands across the globe, featuring some of the world’s most influential supermodels. This creates an exhilarating atmosphere which as the BBC said, ‘champagne, caffeine and chaos’ are all the range as fashion week descends on Paris.
How does it shape the future of fashion?
Here is a breakdown of the objectives of each day:
Monday 3rd of March — dedicated to inspiring the future designers.
Tuesday 4th of March — explores heritage (e.g Japanese craftsmanship) and avant garde style.
Wednesday 5th of March — showcases the modern aesthetic of fashion, aiming to reinvent minimalism.
Thursday 6th of March — aims to combine femininity and modernity.
Friday 7th of March — a display of inventive shows which are similar but not identical, showing how the world of fashion has so many perceptions.
The following days up until Tuesday the 11th of March will display qualities of sophistication, timelessness, modernity and elegance, leaving spectators spellbound by the fashion of our future. So far, Paris has been alive with cultural joy and celebration, shaping fashion’s future through the use of oversized tailoring, ballet flats and leopard print, arguably the most influential pattern of the year. Dior has also brought back vintage inspired fashion, such as the classic T-shirt and featured lace frills in white and black, sparking a new trend for this season. Cropped lace tops paired with low rise skirts, the use of silver and gold, and scarf skirts have also been exclusively featured.
How does it inspire the younger generation?
Paris Fashion Week is a global event celebrating designers attempting to attract recognition, as well as models and photographers. However, it is also inspirational for the younger generation. It showcases new trends for the upcoming season, influencing people’s style, thoughts and ideas through a wide range of social media platforms. It creates new pattern ideas, brings back trends, and also shines light on new, highly creative trends that surge the future of fashion forward. Additionally, it inspires the younger generation through thoughts about pursuing future careers in fashion, but more specifically informs them that fashion is expressive, passionate and creative. Fashion has no bounds and can be anything someone perceives it to be, teaching the younger generation that they should feel confident with expressing their individuality. As the well-known expression says, ‘The beauty of you is how you wear who you are.’