The Paris Fashion Week Trends We Guarantee You’ll See in September

With fashion month coming to an end in Paris, the virtual showcases that ensued over the past week finished off this season’s fall-winter lineup of shows with a bang. 

Social media constantly reminds us that disregarding anything Paris-related is a big no-no in the fashion industry. The infamous scene from The Hills where Lauren Conrad’s boss, Lisa Love, then Teen Vogue director, says, “Lauren didn’t go to Paris. She’s going to always be known as the girl who didn’t go to Paris,” is all of the proof we need. We certainly don’t want to leave you hanging with any regrets like Mrs. Conrad. That’s why we rounded up a list of our favorite Paris Fashion Week trends below. Anna Wintour will never have to ask what happened to that girl that did not go to Paris if you’re familiar with these trends (you can thank us later).

1. Statement Collars: 

Statement collars flooded the runways of Paris this season, and we love the playful rendition on this classic neck framing piece of fabric. For fall/winter 2021, fashion houses like Balmain, Chanel, and Dior created their version of the trend that will leave a lasting impression. We saw some fixed statement collars this season, but you can expect to see a detachable counterpart come fall. From rhinestone embellishments to faux fur, get ready to dress up your knit sweaters, cardigans, and even your go-to stay-at-home pieces like a sweatshirt.

2. Sheer Paneling:

The fall/winter 2021 collections remind us that the fun, feel-good moments are right around the corner. With hopes of rescheduling weddings, attending concerts, and downing bottomless mimosas with a group of girlfriends at Sunday brunch, brands are slowly reintroducing design elements that suggest “occasionwear” is near. Trends like sheer paneling are a testament to this theory. This whimsical ultra-feminine theme was apparent in Giambattista Valli’s romantic gowns and the peek-a-boo cutouts in Chanel’s collection.

3. Crochet Details: 

Crochet has come a long way since its previous bohemian-style reputation during the second decade of the millennium. This handcrafted fiber art ruled the runway with brands like Louis Vuitton, Isabel Marant, and Dior directing attention to detail through punctuated delicate crocheting. Gone are the beliefs that only our grandmas wear crochet given the craft has received a makeover, and the new version presented on the runways of Paris left us awestruck. At Chanel, we saw hints of crochet that added a playful element of texture to a pair of trousers covered in the CC logo with a cropped turtleneck sweater. Alternatively, brands like Giambattista Valli opted to implement full crocheted gowns, which at a glance could be mistaken for lace, making it the perfect look to wear to an event.

4. Soft Pink

It’s no secret…The Parisian designers undoubtedly looked at their Fall Winter collections through rose-tinted glasses. And while the color pink has surely stuck with us through the seasons, this year the ultra-feminine hue was imagined in softer, powdery shades. Some styled the blush-tone from head-to-toe, like Balmain who paired an oversized coat with a paper bag trouser and a turtleneck – all of which were tickled pink. And other designers like Chanel and Louis Vuitton used it as an accent, letting it provide the prettiest pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette. Either way, you’ll want to pick up some more pink for your wardrobe before fall rolls around – trust us on this one.

5. Puffed Sleeves

This season, the sleeves were larger than life. First they ballooned and billowed from the shoulders of jackets at Louis Vuitton and Balmain. Then, they brought an exaggerated classroom-chic charm to the schoolgirl styles from Dior. And last but not least, they provided a bold, yet delicate detail to dresses from Giambattista Valli. And now that we’ve all binge-watched Bridgerton and spent all year indoors, you can bet that once Fall arrives we’ll all be counting on the puff sleeve to give us the sense of cottage-core escapism we’re all craving lately.

6. Ruffles 

With a Fashion Month season as enchanted with romantic details as this one, it’s no surprise that we saw ruffles cascading from every corner of the catwalk. For Giambattista Valli, these fancy frills flounced from the front of a bold jumpsuit, on the neckline of a floral frock and along the entire silhouette of a tiered dress. Other designers, like Balmain and Chloe, opted for a toned down take on the trend, using it to add a touch of whimsy to jackets and dresses alike. No matter which version you prefer, if you’re on the prowl for a trend that has the type of “je ne sais quoi” that’ll do all the talking, this femme-detail is the one you’ll want to say “oui” to.