Paris Fashion Week: Our guide to the biggest hits of Spring 2016, so far

Date October 2, 2015

Digesting a full day of shows can be tough, especially when you’re on a low carb diet. I ventured into Paris Fashion Week trying to avoid my favourite thing: croissants. But as anyone who’s been to France would know, it’s goddamn impossible—that slow moving glucose is everywhere!

So since I can’t ingest any myself (that’s a lie, I’m having at least two), I’m channeling my voracious appetite into Spring 2016’s runway. Here, I present your quick hit guide to the best shows so far.

1/10

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Dries Van Noten

The Belgian king did what he does best—cacophonous colour, high shine and brocade shoes worth salivating over. He was quoted as saying that his collection was for “a flamboyant woman,” which would explain its perfect blend of Madonna, Lauren Bacall and Elsa Schiaparelli.

2/10

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Carven

It may have lacked some of last season’s It factor, but designers Adrien Caillaudaud and Alexis Martial still know how to make Carven sellable. Cue Spring’s cropped blazers, slim fit trousers and loose fitting day dresses.

3/10

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Anthony Vaccarello

If Sex and the City were alive and well today, this would be the naked dress.

4/10

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Rochas

As a show, Rochas Spring 2016 went too many places. As a collection? There were so many hits. Alessandro Dell’Acqua’s use of pastel patents on coats and under dresses was a sugary dream.

5/10

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Jacquemus

When designer Simon Porte walked a white horse across the stage during this show I was like, “okay, I could like this.” Theatrics aside though, the collection, a deconstruction of menswear staples, was pretty nifty too.

6/10

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Lemaire

If women wore pants back in the days of the Dutch masters, they’d be wearing Lemaire. Spring’s effortlessly soft layers were certainly worthy of a painting, if not part of a how-to guide for dressing next season.

7/10

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Each x Other

Each x Other is one of those labels that pops up beside “leather jacket” or “jeans” when you Google it—a sign that people really love buying their stuff. To boot, I’d wear 90% of yesterday’s collaborative collection with editor Jefferson Hack and writer Robert Montgomery, even if the words “you sleep on the feathers of birds” emblazoned on jackets and button downs makes me privately lol.

8/10

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Balmain

Once again, it was Kardashian friendly. And you know what that means: everyone friendly.

9/10

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Vetements

A mishmash of bargain basement vintage finds, heavy metal streetwear and early aught memes, last night’s Vetements show (which took place in a Chinese restaurant) was a lesson in off the charts energy from start to finish. Kanye West and A$AP Rocky were in the front row, which could explain why models were stomping, almost running, at breakneck speed.

10/10

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Lanvin

For those of us whose closest encounter with Lanvin was of the H&M variety, Alber Elbaz’s collab with the mass market chain still rings true as some of the Best Dresses Ever. He hasn’t really repeated those candy pops and use of sequins since, which is why Spring’s collection is going to send fans of the brand into a frenzy.