Fashion Week
What to wear now, hot off the fall runways.
GLISTEN UP
Glossy finishes had a lustrous moment on the runways at NYFW in polished getups made for the urban dweller with a bold but low-key brand of sleek, downtown cool. All this shine couldn't be contained to the catwalk. In a synthesis of uptown and downtown essentials, the city-slick look was seen on everything from articulated cuts and functional outerwear to gathered volume on some seriously swoon-worthy pieces.
CHECK IT OUT
One thing is for certain: it's a plaid, plaid world out there—and New York's street-style scene was in a tizzy over it. The love for the heritage pattern was seen all over the concrete jungle during NYFW, proving that the classic has been reimagined into a modern hit. We saw checks, tartans and plaids of all strokes find new life in directional looks like languid layers, puffed-up volume and teensy lengths.
One major piece from each of the four capitals of style.
NEW YORK: THE BUCKET HAT
The It hat that covers a bad-hair day, blocks UV rays and looks effortlessly chic on anyone? Call us infatuated—or even enamored. This stylish head topper made its glorious return from the heyday of the '90s and graced us with its simple, one-size-fits-all ease in NYFW street style. Put on a classic black bucket hat—like this one from Prada—for an everyday go-to, or grab one in a mash-up of textures for a playful, street-approved update.
The freshest looks from backstage and beyond.
APRÈS-SKI CHIC
A lofty, light-filled locale and layers of lush texture marked the '70s-inflected showing from French fashion house Longchamp. Doubled-over turtlenecks and deftly wrapped silk scarves put the focus on a healthy flush and high-impact matte lips—equal parts cozy ski bunny and chic sidewalk stalker. Balance the fiery coral and red hues with gently smudged liner in charcoal. Hair was low fuss; this is undoubtedly a woman on the move.
What to wear now, hot off the fall runways.
PRETTY PLEATS
The delicate, expressive fold was seen sashaying its way across London's hottest catwalks, signaling that this creased fabric has lost its prim-and-proper image and assumed a new, cooler attitude. Architectural or streamlined, the pleat has a knack for creating silhouettes that are—thankfully—forgiving IRL. Whether complemented with a classic knit, as at Victoria Beckham, or made into a power-packed statement with a high-shine, high-volume top à la Toga, the versatile pleat can glide into looks that are both essential and directional.
FLORAL FACTOR
The streets came into full bloom during London Fashion Week, showing that the floral trend is getting yet another sartorial endorsement from the zeitgeist. Flowy dresses with whimsical petal prints were rendered city-ready with knee-high boots, while punchy colored accessories and textured, oversized outerwear made the floral print a little less sweet with a little more edge. These idyllic, bloom-scattered frocks were a visual relief from the London weather, adding a garden-fresh breath of life alongside the trench-coat-clad crowds.
One major piece from each of the four capitals of style.
LONDON: THE POUCH
Unsurprisingly, the indisputable It bag of London's Fashion Week circuit was The Pouch by Bottega Veneta boy wonder Daniel Lee. We saw the covetable piece of buttery leather teamed up with pared-down, monochrome outfits—because the point of the look is obviously the arm candy. The oversized, cloudlike clutch was seen tucked securely underneath the arm of many of fashion's elite members, cementing the effortless pillow shape into cult status as a luxe must-have.
The freshest looks from backstage and beyond.
TANGERINE DREAM
Cozy, colorful knits—from fuzzy mohair to acid-bright Fair Isle—grounded Molly Goddard's usual tulle confections and added a charmingly layered '90s vibe. Channel the vintage ease with lived-in textured hair, ultra-defined lower lashes and blotted lip stain in a cheery citrus hue.
What to wear now, hot off the fall runways.
ON THE FRINGE
Milan Fashion Week brought a buoyant, kinetic energy to the runways this season. The catwalks at Prada, Bottega Veneta and Fendi all focused on movement with one thing in common: from microthin to car-wash wide, fringe was everywhere. We saw miles of it float across the runway at Daniel Lee's Bottega, while a slinkier, gauzy version glided through at Fendi. Miuccia Prada held nothing back, sending down a powerful yet delicate version of the trend and blurring the line between feminine and masculine with boxy, belted jackets and silky strands. Shake up your wardrobe and go for a full-out fringe dress, or add a touch to your accessories or shoes for a chic update.
HAUTE PINK
You can always count on Milan Fashion Week to bring the spectacle beyond the ready-to-wear runways. Case in point: shocking pink pigments had a loud moment in the city streets. The magenta tone was put in the hot seat, with many a stylish showgoer swathed in the shade from head to toe. This tantalizing color isn't for the faint of heart, but if you're feeling brave, opt for layers on layers of pink hues for maximum impact—or go chic and minimal with one punchy focal point over a neutral palette.
One major piece from each of the four capitals of style.
MILAN: THE LIDO
Bottega Veneta has the street-style set spellbound yet again—but this time, it was on the brand's home turf. Milan showed major love for the fresh new take on Bottega's signature intrecciato leather weave in what is arguably the most covetable shoe of the season: the Lido. We saw sidewalk savants seriously commit to the It shoe as they wore it moving from show to show, proving the staying—or stepping—power of the brand.
The freshest looks from backstage and beyond.
TWIST OF FATE
Ladylike polish with a dose of drama ruled the day at Fendi. Scraped-back updos and interwoven braids piled high on the crown. Masterful misdirection delighted, with ruched, upside-down headbands standing in for earrings and groomed but naked eyes setting off berry-stained lips. PS: Don't underestimate the power of plush brows.
What to wear now, hot off the fall runways.
'70s REVIVAL
The '70s had a big moment on the Paris runways, reigniting that sense of optimism and iconic style that we've come to worship about the era. Fashion's love for looking backward to this time was cast in the form of rich suede miniskirts and epaulet silk shirts at Celine, luxe retro sweaters and floor-skimming wide-leg jeans at Christian Dior and free-flowing check dresses at Chloé. The decade's explosive creative influence—both ideological and aesthetic—was a much-needed reprieve and, clearly, a timely one.
HEAVY METAL
Paris was feeling all the shine for Fashion Week. We saw the street-style crew electrify their paths in stunning metallic flashes. Follow their lead and rock glossy, oil-slick ensembles from head to toe; throw on iridescent tailored suit separates; or strut your stuff in shimmering gold and silver sequins. When all is said and done, leave it to the capital of fashion to bring the sartorial gleam and glimmer to the sidewalks.
One major piece from each of the four capitals of style.
PARIS: THE CRESCENT MOON
Since she took home the 2017 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers, Marine Serre has been on a meteoric rise—and fashion's finest have been waxing poetic over her iconic logo. The Paris street-style set was over the moon for her signature crescent motif. We saw scores of showgoers enchanted by the designer's celestial point of view. A hybrid of her second-skin print pieces mixed with assertive-looking accessories made the looks feel futuristic and energizing. Wear it from top to toe with chunky platforms by day, pair with knee-high boots by night, but, most importantly, let the print do all the heavy lifting.
The freshest looks from backstage and beyond.
STARLIGHT EXPRESS
An uncharacteristically somber palette at Valentino provided a dramatic backdrop for stunning points of light: white florals brightened black dresses, and glittering paillettes adorned many of the looks. For the face, rhinestones were dotted around the eye and flanked by sharp lines of dark-as-night liner. Velvet-finish, semi-matte skin and rosy-tinted lips kept all focus on the artful look.
We've distilled the best runways from New York, London, Milan and Paris down to the biggest hits of the season.
Between the new era of mindful essentials and the glorious return of retro styles, the Fall/Winter 2020 runways were shaped by a revival of style codes centered on feminine power. The most obvious cases here: Givenchy and Paco Rabanne, who opted for overstated yet gentle volumes in looks ranging from elegant chic to Victorian prim. Megawatt eveningwear and luxe leather also dominated the runways, with Dries Van Noten and Louis Vuitton taking the lead. We also saw tailoring getting more contoured; Fendi and Saint Laurent offered everything from experimental precision cuts to softly curved silhouettes. Elsewhere, Loewe took a boundary-pushing, avant-garde approach to creating pieces with abstract shapes and proportion, while Burberry, Bottega Veneta and Sies Marjan presented a spectrum of natural to vivid hues that looked seriously fresh when worn from head to toe.
The freshest looks from backstage and beyond.
Clean, unadorned skin that keeps all focus on the fashion is a given, but flashes of color on the face are always appreciated too. This season, Prada, Altuzarra and Anna Sui cast a prismatic glow with compelling multichrome effects on eyes—shades shifting, sketched on in bold geometric bars or curvilinear feline shapes. One of the most pervasive trends observed on the runways was the classic red lip, made newly modern with hyperpersonal variations. While Dolce&Gabbana and Saint Laurent kept it classic, Oscar de la Renta took it glossy and slightly neon, with hints of pink liner adding to the high-frequency effect. Demure '60s vibes were felt at CHANEL, Tory Burch and Miu Miu, with hair worn half up, half down. The easy-to-execute style is equal parts proper and coquettish, subtly changing profiles with a volume boost. Keep it mussed and carefree or glossy and tightly coiled—it's a noncommittal approach that's completely alluring.
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