IT’S SHOWTIME PART 2: PARIS FASHION WEEK FALL 2022
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s ‘beauty & protection’ collection for Dior fall 2022 (Photo credit: The Economic Times)
As war rages in Ukraine (since February 24th) and the fashion industry unites by donating to relief orgs and closing retail stores in Russia, sometimes fantasy is what we all need to escape the harsh realities of the world around us. The month-long fall 2022 runway extravaganza is in its final stretch. Paris Fashion Week, which began on Monday, February 28th ends on Tuesday March 8th. At the risk of seeming insensitive to the tragedies that continue to unfold in real-time in Ukraine, we are looking forward to the end of the conflict with hope and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
At the start of Paris Fashion Week, Ukrainian fashion journalists, now refugees, and Ukrainian designers, used their social platforms to support and strengthen the Ukrainian people. French designer Olivier Rousteing wrote to his 7.6 million Instagram followers, “It’s hard to feel right about focusing on runways and clothes, as we listen with a heavy heart to the latest news.” He added, “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainians. We are inspired by their dignity, resilience and devotion to freedom.” Rousteing’s collection consisted of looks that strongly resembled futuristic body armour, as did Maria Grazia Chiuri’s collection for Dior, which consisted of strong shoulder pads and airbag corsets. These designers conceived their collections long before the war in Ukraine began, so are they fashion’s soothsayers? Is protective clothing for a wartime atmosphere going to be fashion’s latest trend?
As volunteer Ukrainian hackers help their country by going after targets such as Russian state-owned bank Sberbank, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has become an international icon and yes, an unlikely sex symbol, for his fierce resistance to Putin’s unprovoked war on his country.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine – a fierce resistance leader (Photo credit: Vox.com)
Although fashion has always provided us with fantasy and an escape from reality, it also offers a socio-political reflection of the world around us. Giorgio Armani was one of the first designers to react to the war when on February 27th he chose to present his collection at Milan Fashion Week in total silence as a tribute to the suffering in Ukraine. In Paris, Ralph Toledano, president of the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode released a statement advising people to “experience the shows of the coming days with solemnity, and in reflection of these dark hours.
Designers around the world are showing their support for Ukraine as they post images of the Ukrainian Flag on their social media pages and the CFDA has just created a list of charities and relief organizations to donate to https://cfda.com/news/how-cfda-members-help-ukraine.
At UoF we have chosen to help the children of Ukraine by donating to Unicef USA https://www.unicefusa.org and are consistently spreading the word on our social media channels.
UoF’s Children of Ukraine initiative on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn
As the old saying goes “the show must go on”, and yet Paris Fashion Week opened on a somber note with a tribute show to Off-White founder Virgil Abloh, who passed away of cancer on November 2021. Celebs walked the runway in his honor, Cindy Crawford, Kaia Gerber, Serena Williams and Bella Hadid and touchingly, a male model held a white flag reading ‘Question Everything’.
Looks from Off-White’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Shutterstock)
So, while Paris Fashion Week is still going strong at the writing of this post, here are a few of the breakout trends thus far:
SPACE ODYSSEY
Designers set their sights on the future, delivering on some pretty and provocative cosmically (and sometimes comically) chic looks, with nods to Sixties icons Paco Rabanne and Andre Courrèges.
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Backstage at Rick Owens’ Fall 2022 Show. (Photo Credit: Vogue)
A look from Malitta Baumeister’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Acne Studios’ Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Courrèges’ Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loewe’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Nina Ricci’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
DARKNESS FALLS
Glamour took a turn toward the dark side in intricate lace dresses and delicate tulle frocks.
A look from Christian Dior’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Balmain’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Zuhair Murad’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Andrew Gn’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Nina Ricci’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
LADY IN RED
Make a grand entrance at your next soiree in eye-catching red gowns that will surely bring on the drama.
A look from Alexandre Vauthier’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from VAlexandre Vauthier’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loewe’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Christian Dior’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Zuhair Murad’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
BEASTIE GIRLS
Designers turned a savage eye on fur (both real and faux) offering a playful and modern take on the lavish material.
A look from Rick Owens’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Rochas’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Sandy Liang’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Tom Ford’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loewe’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Malitta Baumeister’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
FORMAL AFFAIR
Le Smoking is back as designers in Paris paid tribute to the tuxedo look that Yves Saint Laurent popularized for women in 1966. Here are some fresh takes on the classic tuxedo.
A look from Saint Laurent’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Tom Ford’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Rochas’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Off-White’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Christian Dior’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loewe’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
WHITE NOISE
Designers wiped the slate clean this fall season with an all-white palette that offered plenty of alluring details.
A look from Cecilie Bahnsen’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Alexandre Vauthier’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Balmain’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Coperni’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Dries Van Noten’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Loewe’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
LET’S GET PHYSICAL
Thanks to Kim Kardashian’s love of the unitard, the sexy, one-piece, body-con look was all over the runways in the fashion capital of the world.
A look from Balmain’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Acne Studios’ Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Isabel Marant’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Victoria Beckham’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Christian Dior’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
Y2K
The 2000’s trend is going strong, and for fall, designers brought back the confusing dress or skirt over pant look. Although today’s version is a study on layering to perfection.
A look from Marine Serre’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Yohji Yamamoto’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Nina Ricci’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Chloé’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Cecilie Bahnsen’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
A look from Lutz Huelle’s Fall 2022 Collection. (Photo Credit: Vogue Runway)
And that’s a wrap! As the fall 2022 runway season comes to an end, please join us in hoping that by next fashion season the Russian dictator will come to his senses and Give Peace a Chance!
Backstage at Balmain’s Fall 2022 Show. (Photo Credit: Vogue)