The Best of Paris Fashion Week S/S 2025
Paris Fashion Week has once again dazzled the fashion world, closing the global fashion season with a stunning array of collections from renowned designers. The nine-day event offered a showcase of innovative styles, groundbreaking designs, and a celebration of creativity, from the grandeur of Louis Vuitton’s show to the youthful rebellion of Miu Miu. Let’s dive into some of the highlights from the Spring/Summer 2025 runway.
Chanel: Lightness and Ease at the Grand Palais
Chanel returned to its iconic Grand Palais venue for this season's show, marking a moment of lightness and ease. Drawing inspiration from birds spreading their wings, the collection featured frilled tulle collars, delicate feather motifs, and ethereal organza capes. The finale saw actress Riley Keough serenading the audience in a giant Chanel-branded birdcage, evoking the spirit of freedom and lightness that ran throughout the collection.
Alexander McQueen: Dark Romance with a Regal Edge
Seán McGirr’s second collection for McQueen embraced the brand's heritage of dark romance, with tales of the banshee woven into the narrative. Structured jackets, rough-edged tulle, and ceremonial collars evoked a sense of protection and power. The collection also featured a dramatic finale of metal-chain gowns and crystal embellishments, highlighting McGirr’s growing confidence in the McQueen atelier. While the collection lacked some of the raw intensity of Lee McQueen’s original work, it was a polished and commercially appealing evolution of the brand’s signature style.
Balenciaga: A Playful Return to Childhood Dreams
Demna’s Balenciaga show transported the audience back to the designer's childhood memories of fashion. The runway was set like a lavish dinner table, with guests seated around it. The collection toyed with proportion, featuring cut-out garments, oversized jackets, and low-rise jeans. Playful elements, like dresses tied with oversized corset laces and ironic “Fashion Designer” slogans, added a whimsical touch. The show culminated in a trio of exaggerated wide-shouldered jackets and dresses, capturing the essence of Cristóbal Balenciaga’s legacy.
Louis Vuitton: A Celebration of ‘Soft Power’
Nicolas Ghesquière closed Paris Fashion Week in spectacular fashion with a Louis Vuitton show that exuded bold creativity. Set against the backdrop of a neon-lit runway, the collection was a tribute to the power of juxtaposition—combining structure with fluidity, and soft silhouettes with sharp edges. Bold 1980s-inspired pieces, such as wide-shouldered jackets paired with knee-length leggings, and voluminous gowns adorned with layered jewelry, reflected a revival of the era’s opulence. Ghesquière's collection was not just nostalgic; it had a futuristic flair, with striking white opera coats and tulle pirate pants making bold fashion statements. It was a dynamic end to the week, leaving the audience in awe.
Miu Miu: Simplicity Meets Youthful Rebellion
Miuccia Prada’s Miu Miu collection for Spring/Summer 2025 embraced the idea of youthful honesty and simplicity. White cotton dresses, pleated kilts, and school blazers were among the standout pieces, reflecting a minimalist aesthetic. Yet, there was an underlying subversive edge, with undone dresses, nylon knickers, and mismatched 1970s prints adding a rebellious twist. Prada’s collection reminded us that simplicity can be the ultimate expression of character in an overstimulated world.
Sacai: Parisian Elegance Meets Subversive Design
Chitose Abe celebrated Sacai’s 25th anniversary with a collection that paid homage to Parisian style, featuring Breton stripes, trench coats, and handkerchief-collared blouses. However, in true Sacai fashion, these classic pieces were deconstructed and reimagined with unexpected cuts and hybrid designs. A striking contrast emerged between techy nylon pieces printed with cheetah spots and delicate ruffled gowns. The collection balanced elegance with Abe’s unique design language, offering a fresh take on French style.
Hermès: Lightness in Craftsmanship
Nadège Vanhée for Hermès embraced the concept of process and craftsmanship, delivering a collection filled with sensual layers and a sense of effortlessness. Sheer knits, lightweight leather jackets, and zippered skirts created a minimalist yet luxurious aesthetic. Later pieces incorporated vibrant prints and intricate detailing, capturing the feeling of an artist at work. Hermès showcased its unparalleled ability to combine tradition with modernity in every stitch.
Vivienne Westwood: Playful Femininity
Andreas Kronthaler’s collection for Vivienne Westwood explored classic femininity with a playful twist. Featherweight tulle dresses, crinoline skirts in pale yellow, and simple white poplin gowns were the standouts. The collection’s simplicity was a departure from the bold theatrics of last season, but Kronthaler’s whimsical headpieces and subtle references to Westwood’s revolutionary spirit kept the show lively and engaging.
Loewe: Radical Reduction and Artistic Flourishes
Jonathan Anderson’s Loewe collection focused on radical reduction, stripping back designs to their most essential elements. Featherweight dresses bounced down the runway, while structured jackets adorned with shells created a juxtaposition of movement and form. Artistic flourishes, including Van Gogh’s famous paintings reimagined in feathers, added a touch of whimsy. Anderson’s ability to command attention without excess was on full display, earning him a standing ovation.
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Paris Fashion Week S/S 2025 was a celebration of contrasts—between simplicity and extravagance, structure and fluidity, youth and nostalgia. Designers reimagined iconic eras and infused their collections with bold innovation, reminding us why Paris remains the heart of the fashion world. From Ghesquière’s exuberant Louis Vuitton finale to Anderson’s masterful Loewe show, the season offered plenty of inspiration and set the tone for the future of fashion.
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