The Best Fall 2019 Runway Moments From Paris Fashion Week

With NYFW, LFW and MFW behind us, we’re off to Paris to close out what has been an incredibly lively and creative fashion month. We’ve seen youthful tailoring and modern layering in New York, elegant festive pieces in London, and the most breathtaking, innovative puffer dresses in Milan. So what’s in store in Paris? On the horizon this week are Chloé, Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Loewe, to name but a few of the most highly anticipated shows of the fashion world.

This week, we’ll be keeping you up to speed with all the key moments throughout Paris Fashion Week and sharing the standout trends to keep an eye on for fall. Keep reading for the most important moments of Paris Fashion Week so far, and be sure to check back as we update our runway coverage.

Jacquemus

Amid the backdrop of Place Jacquemus, a Parisian warehouse space converted into a colorful South of France town square, the designer created a feast for the eyes with Instagrammable, colorful pieces blended beautifully with crisp neutrals. From relaxed, loose-fit pantsuits to skirt-and-sweater combos and long and languid overcoats, the ensembles leaned into workwear silhouettes in saturated shades of pink, orange, yellow, and blue. The bold and vivid accessories equally captivated the crowd—from oversize tote bags to teeny-tiny handbags.

Dior

For Dior’s F/W 19 collection, Maria Grazia Chiuri looked no further than the house’s own history and heritage for inspiration. Reinventing dresses, suits, and even sportswear-inspired pieces for the runway, the designer yet again delivered a collection that was distinctly Dior but still fresh and forward-looking. Of course, there was also a theme of feminism, as Chiuri has done in the past with T-shirts—most memorably those with "We Should All Be Feminists" written on them. This time, in a nod to American feminist poet Robin Morgan, the T-shirts reference sisterhood in various ways.

Saint Laurent

Through his quest to pay homage to three of Saint Laurent’s historic muses—Betty Catroux, Bianca Jagger, and Catherine Deneuve—designer Anthony Vaccarello produced a collection that felt simultaneously inspired and iconic in its own right. While the house delivered its usual slew of party-ready minidresses, short shorts, and skirts (any of which this editor would wear in a heartbeat), it was the “sharp and couture-refined” tailoring, as the show notes put it, that had the fashion world buzzing. Prepare to see Vaccarello’s coats everywhere next fall, followed closely by the neon pieces which closed out the show in an epic finale.

Lanvin

Creative director, Bruno Sialelli made his runway debut with Lanvin’s fall 2019 collection—bringing a fresh new perspective to the fashion house that has been through its fair share of ups and downs. The collection served a diverse spread of looks to suit every sartorial taste—from cool artistic prints and motifs on layered slip dresses to mismatched checks on kilts, ponchos, and frocks. Modern wool jackets with sailor collars were tied with leather bows, in a color palette of crisp pastels and toffee browns. Accessories featured larger than life tote bags and ultra-wearable lace up boots.

Dries Von Noten

The Belgian designer’s F/W 19 collection oozed a sophisticated dark romance—balancing masculine grey pinstripe tailoring with delicate and dreamy purple and mint dresses splashed with the most enticing floral prints. Voluminous quilted coats and scarves also made a striking appearance in black, purple and flowery fabrics as they slung across dark suits and silky dresses—accented by punchy orange neon faux fur stoles and bags. Lastly, expect to see plenty of colorful tights come fall in shades of turquoise, purple, yellow, and charcoal.

Off-White

Across the checkerboard floors of Off-White’s F/W 19 runway walked countless looks that artfully combined sport, streetwear, and sophistication—a combination few can achieve as well as Virgil Abloh. Then, of course, there were the It models, including Karlie Kloss, the Hadid sisters, and Adut Akech, who joined Abloh in an epic finale. Our favorite moments? It has to be a toss-up between Bella’s shorts and Gigi’s surprising sneakers. We’ll let you decide for yourself which reigned supreme.

Isabel Marant

Are you prepared to feel things about sweaters you didn’t know were possible? Because that’s the effect Isabel Marant’s F/W 19 collection just had on us. Sure, there were also amazing jumpsuits, short-and-boot combos, and overall outfit ideas that define how the French girl does night-out dressing, but we can’t help but feel like the knits simply stole the show. From layered-look pullovers to chunky sweaterdresses, these pieces are sure to sell out as soon as they become available next fall, so I’d suggest ordering them the first chance you get.

Loewe

As always, Jonathan Anderson has presented another covetable Loewe collection for F/W 19. Between the effortless dresses, power outerwear, and eye-catching accessories, there was a lot to love, but nothing more so than the handbags. From new styles in a range of sizes to updates on old favorites from the house, there will undoubtedly be quite a few from this runway among next fall’s It bags.

Hermès

Classic, timeless, and enduring—three words that sum up Nadège Vanhee-Cybulski’s F/W 19 collection and a style philosophy that has remained true to the Hermès label. Leather took center stage at the show, predominantly in the form of luxurious knee-length pencil skirts paired gracefully with knee-high boots and long-sleeve, printed silk T-shirts exuding an elegant, female-empowering look. There was no shortage of sumptuous outerwear, either—from raglan-sleeve, double-face coats lined with the brand's signature orange, as well as leather and shearling aviator jackets and practical yet showstopping leather parkas and puffer jackets. Of course, accessories remained strong at the show with the H-shaped clasp embellishing chic structured bags and belts.

Givenchy

Marrying sharp tailoring with soft and feminine pieces, designer, Clare Waight Keller described the Fall/Winter collection as “the winter of Eden”—referencing the myth of Adam and Eve—a visual aesthetic intertwined into her looks. Sharp tailoring featuring herringbone and bold colored suits contrasted with a series of delicate floral-print plissé dresses with curlicue hems. Dramatic puffed sleeves were definitively what caught everyone’s eye—featured on tailored suits and voluminous evening gowns. And don’t forget to cinch your outerwear and suits at the waist come fall—belts were seen on practically every Givenchy look.

Balmain

March is International Women’s History month, and Balmain definitely got the memo. The show notes included words and phrases such as, “pushing forward,” “new attitude,” “armor,” “great power,” “strong voices and a demand to be heard,” and “bold action.” In seeking to celebrate the rebellious women of his own generation, through sharp shoulders (and studs) as well as bold outerwear and edgy accessories, Olivier Rousteing certainly succeeded in creating a collection that looks like it was made for pushing boundaries and certainly getting heard and being seen.

Alexander McQueen

Sarah Burton’s fall/winter collection paid homage to the fabric mills and wild countryside of Northern England, where the creative director grew up. From the sharp and creative tailoring (drapes of fabric flowed from the waistlines of pinstripe and check suits) to the dramatic flower dresses made from yards of taffeta that resembled enormous roses (a nod to England’s Red Rose of Lancaster), and the metallic chokers and striking stacks of silver hoop earrings, the collection exuded both a classical Victorian and modern punk aesthetic—honoring the history of England’s textile industry.

Balenciaga

In both the set design and the looks themselves, Demna Gvasalia took a much more subdued approach to designing his F/W 19 collection for Balenciaga than last season, and we’re not mad about it. Yes, there were colors, but often just one in an outfit. Instead of prints, silhouettes predominately did the heavy lifting here. From his signature oversize outerwear to less-predictable maxi dresses, it was an unexpected but equally exciting approach to the season’s everyday dressing.

Lacoste

Lacoste's newly-appointed creative director Louise Trotter presented a strong debut collection in Paris, making us excited about what else she has up her sleeve. From color-block jackets to maxi tennis skirts, the collection was rife with sporty pieces that struck the perfect balance between wearable and innovative. 

Valentino

While you can pretty much always expect to be moved by a Valentino collection, Pierpaolo Piccioli has really done it this time. From lovers printed across dresses, coats, blouses, and more to seemingly simple, monochromatic outfits that are inexplicably perfect, the romantic runway show was filled with one swoon-worthy look after another. If you were following along on Instagram Stories, it was clear that showgoers including Carine Roitfeld and Anna Wintour seemed absolutely delighted to be there.

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney applied her strong commitment to sustainability and upcycling with full force for her F/W 19 collection. Strips of vintage tees were used to knit a multicolor dress, fabric from previous collections created detailing on stunning dresses and coats, earrings were made from paperclips, and long necklaces incorporated rubber bands. The earthy color palette was applied to clothing that played with structure and softness—from the most beautiful strong shoulder coats to feminine, sensual dresses.

Miu Miu

Capes and camouflage were the standout pieces to take away from Miuccia Prada’s F/W 19 collection. Camouflage, a symbol of rebellion and connecting to nature, and capes, a nod to history and protection. Those looking for Miu Miu’s signature sweet and feminine styles found plenty of charming details to delight in—from delicate floral prints on minidresses, tights, and bags, as well as sweet Mary Janes and glittery heels, but overall the mood felt darker and more serious. The Miu Miu girl looked ready for battle—ready to save the world.

Louis Vuitton

Eclecticism summed up the bold, fearless, and virtuous F/W 19 collection envisioned by creative director Nicolas Ghesquière. The outfits were expressive of individuality and oozed personality, featuring a montage of clashing textures, prints, ruffles, fabrics, metal embellishments, and leather skullcaps that leaned into a punk tomboyish vibe. The designer called the new collection “geolocated”—re-creating the idea of subcultures coming together before the digital age of Instagram.

Up next? The must-see moments from the runways in Milan.