5 Things We've Learned So Far From Paris Fashion Week SS14

Gorgeous pleats, pretty pastels and amazing new trends we'll be rocking all next summer. Check out our stand-out moments from the hottest week in the fashion calendar. Ooh. La. La.

Rochas at Paris Fashion Week SS14
Rochas at Paris Fashion Week SS14
(Image credit: Rex)

Gorgeous pleats, pretty pastels and amazing new trends we'll be rocking all next summer. Check out our stand-out moments from the hottest week in the fashion calendar. Ooh. La. La.

Lanvin goes Quality Street

In front of screen legend Catherine Deneuve (looking super-Parisian chic, bien sur, in nipped-in black) Alber Elbaz showed off his decadently rich vision for SS14 and gave us the first tick in the HELLO MASSIVE METALLIC TREND ALERT box. Edie Campbell’s fuschia flapper frock meets strawberry crème sweetie wrapper (our favourite flavour FYI) was di-vine. And don’t even get us started on the bin-liner-esque grab bags. OMG WANT.

Marco Zanini's farewell to Rochas

Having expertly steered this classic Parisian house to serious style glory, the super talented Marco Zanini unveiled his final collection for the label as he departs to re-launch Schiaparelli. But what a send off! It was pure ladylike perfection exploited through incredibly luxe detailed fabrics in a mouthwatering array of pretty pretty metallic-tinged pastels. And don’t forget to look down – chunky mules and floor sweeping ostrich feather fronted flats gave this collection super wit. We might have squealed a little bit.

Acne’s furious fisherman

We were VERY keen for the hot Swede version of fisherman’s friend chic. We also LOVED how quickly those models strutted down that catwalk, giving the show a fabulously fast and furious edge. And as for the clothes? We were particularly taken with a shredded white leather biker (truly, it is awesome) and the jaunty bright yellow pea-coat macs paired with blue patchwork cropped trousers and almost-ugly-but-actually-so-hot-right-now white pool sliders. HIYA.

Pleats

Hot on the heels of metallics trend-wise is some serious pleat-age happening next summer. Where, you say? Haider Ackermann created a spine-tinglingly good collection complete with flowing (and metallic – two in one!) accordian-pleated maxi skirts worn over slick tailored trousers. At Dior, Raf Simons gave us flirty floral printed minis as well as an intricate shredded version. Peter Coping for Nina Ricci did luxe cream silk pleated knee skirts, while at Lanvin Alber used them to dynamo affect in his lame cocktail frocks. If you needed more proof that this is a THING: Phoebe Philo at Celine whipped up too-good-to-be-true asymmetric hemmed skirts in sharp white, edged with sheer black detailing. Genius.

Vanessa Bruno at Paris Fashion Week SS14

Vanessa Bruno at Paris Fashion Week SS14
(Image credit: ImaxTree)

The midriff

It's OK, we’re with you – but as much as we’d like to give this one a swerve, these designers seem very keen for us to get on the stomach crunches – they are being pretty persistent in their insistence of a belly flash. But to steer you away from the super scary bra-tops out there (slight shudder), look to Vanessa Bruno, whose short shift on a tank top is looking rather more manageable. We also really liked her stripey dunga-dress. But we might like to pop a top underneath it. Look, we’re in Paris – you try avoiding pastries in this town.

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