FASHION MONTH LOWDOWN: PFW

Post Milan and the final stop to end Fashion Month…Paris. Arguably the most exciting fashion week with the biggest celebrity crowd to enjoy celebrations PFW is not to be missed. Kicking off the final week of Fashion Month in the fashion capital of France was…

F E N T Y  x  P U M A

Inspired by (and I quote Rihanna herself) ‘ Marie Antoinette at the gym’ Rihanna’s second collection for Puma was the first show of Paris Fashion Week.

The show featured a pastel colour palette of muted baby pinks, beige, ivory, lilac and khaki.

A large number of tracksuit bottoms, hoodies, trainers, baseball caps and over sized floor length coats were sported on the catwalk contrasted with feminine accessories such as bows, corsets, pearl necklaces and handheld fans.

 Fenty x Puma backstage

 Fenty x Puma SS17 looks (baby pink and khaki palette)

Rihanna herself walking the show

Y S L

Expectations were high for the new Creative Director Anthony Vaccarello’s debut collection.

Featuring skin tight black leather, shimmering luxe fabrics, velvets and plunging necklines.
Juxtaposed to this was a feature of street wear in the form denim jeans on the runway.
Outfits were accessorised with sky high skinny heels but the real showstopper were one pair of heels which spelt out ‘YSL’ in lacquered black.
Vaccarello was quoted saying “I wanted the collection to be bourgeois with a punky attitude,” “I like to ask what is bad taste and make it look cool.”

YSL catwalk

YSL SS17 looks 

The showstopper 'YSL' heels

B A L M A I N

Featuring a huge celebrity crowd including the Kardashian FROW (obviously)  and a clan of Victoria Secret models walking the show, such as  Gigi Hadid, Doutzen Kroes, Alessandra Ambrosio, Cindy Bruna, Lais Ribeiro and Sara Sampaio, the Balmain show was not one to miss.

The catwalk was tropical themed with green plant foliage suspended above it. This matched the collection itself which was predominantly earthy colours such as greens, browns and oranges.

Naturally the models sported opulent glittering dresses in golds and silvers encrusted with jewels and sequins.

 Balmain SS17 catwalk 

Balmain SS17
looks 
Balmain FROW featuring Kim Kardashian West, Kourtney Kardashian and Kris Jenner (right to left)

E L L I E  S A A B

The Ellie Saab show had a disco vibe to it, with Saab revealing that the show was inspired by the 70s, an era in which he lived through and celebrated.
The collection featured sparkling mini dresses paired with black belts, golden chokers, dangling earrings , caged stiletto heels and even a gold glittery baseball cap (worn by Gigi Hadid)

The mini dress was presented in many different ways with flares, glitter, lace, tassel, sequins, sparkles and star motifs.
Featuring models Gigi Hadid, Hailey Baldwin and Karlie Kloss the show definitely one of the glitziest of the season.

Ellie Saab SS17 catwalk looks

Backstage Ellie Saab (featuring Gigi Hadid wearing the showstopper gold, glittery baseball cap)

B A L E N C I A G A

The shoulder pads that defined the Balenciaga Mens SS17 showed were mirrored in the women’s show.

Alongside this were catwalk staples of trench coats, blazers and padded vests. Paired with these on the legs were brightly coloured, patterned spandex in the form of shoe boots or worn along with stilettos.

Brightly coloured florals also made an appearance on the catwalk.

 Balenciaga SS17 catwalk looks

 Balenciaga SS17 catwalk (featuring the brightly coloured spandex in the form of shoe boots)

Kim Kardashian West debuting a 'no make up look' at the Balenciaga SS17 show

C H A N E L

Technology was the theme of the SS17 Chanel show. Featuring a clinical silver catwalk and models wearing cyborg helmets, the show was a representation of how the Internet has grown over recently years in all aspects of life.

The couture house’s trademark material tweed was the main feature of the show featuring matching tweed blazer and skirt combos, white futuristic boots and tweet baseball caps mixing classic Chanel trademarks with new trends.
Models sported side ponytails, floral appliques and pearl jewellery.

Taylor Hill and Tami Williams walked the show with Chanel ambassador Lily-Rose Depp, Usher, Courtney Love and daughter Frances Bean Cobain sitting in the FROW.

 Chanel SS17 catwalk

Chanel SS17 looks (featuring robots)

Chanel SS17 FROW

M I U  M I U

Ending off fashion month was was the final show of the season; Miu Miu. Set at the George V hotel bring a French Riviera theme to Paris. Alongside the chilled soundtrack of seagulls cawing and waves crashing, models look like they stepped out of the 1960s era.

Colourful cotton separates, tiny hot pants, bikinis and towel-esque stoles were featured in the show contrasted with trench coats and long , crisp shirts. Reoccurring colours black and beige were continuously shown with pops of hot pinks and reds
Juxtaposing this there were tailored suits and jackets, in natural Miu Miu style, featured in bright, funky colours. 

Miu Miu SS17 looks; 'Life's a Beach' theme

With a colourful send off from Prada’s sister Miu Miu we bid au revoir to the end of Paris Fashion Week and the overall duration of Fashion Month.

Equipped with the knowledge of SS17 trends we hope you enjoyed this feature of Fashion Month giving you the lowdown on each week in each city.
See you again in February for the lowdown on the AW17 trends. Until then…

By Nandini Shukla