For a brief moment, after Celine canceled her menswear show in Paris due to the recent unrest in France, there were concerns about whether last week’s fashion shows would go ahead as planned. But when guests began to arrive at Alaïa, one of the first events of the fashion week, dutifully carrying the custom chairs on which the brand sent them to sit, it became clear: The shows will continue.
At Schiaparelli, gold embellishments and the house’s signature surrealist details were on full display. Thom Browne, for his debut fashion show, transformed an opera house into a wonderland full of fantastic clothes. Valentino showed ethereal gowns against the backdrop of the Château de Chantilly, a magnificent property outside Paris and one of the most extraordinary venues I have ever photographed. Cardi B, who sat in several front rows, was apparently the must-have celebrity guest of the season.
In the crowds outside the shows, there was noticeably less peacocking. Some people have retired bright palettes for more muted monochromatic looks. Others traded in the boxy clothing that has dominated guest and fan style in recent years for pieces with softer, more fluid silhouettes.