Paris Fashion Week January 2020

Fashion in Paris is another enthralling realm, and it always has been. From the famous photos of Christian Dior’s models in the fifties in their fitted waist ensembles by the Seine, Brigitte Bardot and Catherine Deneuve, to the former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld with her chicly tousled hair. 

There are endless interesting discussions on how to achieve the French look, but being in Paris and seeing some fashion shows, and the people who attend them, is always inspiring as well.

Black, of course, is always in the mix, but fluoros were big at Paris Fashion Week this January. Designer Georges Hobeika at the Trocadero sent models in bright yellow and bright pink frilly gowns, while Nicolas Jebran over at Place Vendome had a few lovely pieces in fluoro yellow as well as a stunning hot pink backless slightly tiered flowing gown with a gold belt.

Hobeika had some fabulous high waisted tightly fitted silk pantsuits and lots of dresses with sequins and long earrings. 

Exaggerated huge hats were a big thing over at Givenchy, and also at Hobeika with models wearing large fringed hats that swayed as they strutted. 

Paris fashion shows: I loved the surprises

But what I love about these fashion shows is seeing something I would normally think I’d not love, and then, think it’s magnificent. For example, Hobeika’s bright yellow dress with large orange flowers on the hem, topped off with a large Tiffany blue bow on one shoulder, pink shoes, oh and a blue extended with a narrow train down the back! Sounds awful  – but a master put it together and it looks fabulous darling! 

And in a completely unexpected move, designer Franck Sorbier sent horses down the runway! People in the front row visibly reeled back a little, and I saw one photographer quickly duck out of the way as a horse galloped past him. 

Beautiful horses, with beautiful Mexican inspired clothes on the riders. The horses danced and pranced, and the singers sung strong emotional songs. 

The horses (surprisingly) and the twirls and poses the dancers struck, highlighted the cut and drape of the clothes, cinched in at the waist with full skirts. Sorbier used a lot of black fabric, gold trim, and one of this year’s favourite colours – pink.

Fashion on the street: black with pops of colour

Putting aside the runway shows, I was also curious to see how people would dress in a Parisian Winter to attend Paris Fashion Week in January.

Over the knee boots were everywhere! Mainly in black, but I saw a couple of fabulous eye-popping red ones too.

And I noticed a few people still wearing eighties cobalt blue; one woman in a fabulous cobalt blue suit that looked great paired back with a black coat, and sunglasses of course. Valentino also had a stunning fitted cobalt blue gown that dramatically flared out from the thighs. So it’s a colour that’s still around.

I saw so many coloured faux fur jackets, and loads of the oversized coats the French tend to wear, but this year with bright pops of colour underneath, which echoes the trends seen on the runway. Hot pink was a favourite among the crowd, from blazers and faux fur jackets to high waisted cigarette pants.

What the models wear when they’ve finished a show is also a good indication of what’s cool in streetwear, and the answer this year is black leather biker jackets and black faux fur coats.

Wow! @parisfashionweek #pfw has certainly been strutting its stuff in SS2020! What does #paris #fashion mean to you? We’d love to hear from you in Comments below.

Images credits
All © Cynthia Karena