10 Things We Love from Paris Fashion Week 2025

Kicking off the fashion calendar, Paris Fashion Week 2025 is set against the city’s gloomy weather. But that doesn’t stop the industry’s top couturiers and newcomers to brighten up the city with avant-garde and neo-classical looks. Here are some of Spotlite’s favorite moments from the runway.

1.Schiaparelli’s Maximalism

Since the pandemic has subsided, minimalism seems to have dominated street style and the runway.  From trends like the clean girl aesthetic to quiet luxury, the once cacophonous luxury looks has turned into a whisper. 

Helmed by Daniel Roseberry, the designer’s latest collection for Schiaparelli reassures us that maximalism is alive and well. The title of the collection is borrowed from the Greek mythology, Icarus. Though the story is often told as a cautionary tale on hubris, Roseberry’s take is an ode to how far couturiers will fly for the sake of perfection.

Sheer gowns with exaggerated asymmetrical hemline, dramatically shaped nude bustier, repurposed wartime antique ribbons, glittering Japanese bugle beads, and the glamorous off the shoulder feathered opera coat worn by Model of the Year, Alex Consani, are just some of the sensual highlights from the show. 

2. Chanel and Laufey’s Match Made in Eden

Even with the artistic director –Matthieu Blazy– missing in action, Chanel proves that it is still a well-oiled haute couture machine. Their 110th year celebration at the Grand Palais features a catwalk mimicking the maison’s famous interlocking “C” logo. 

Departing from its black and cream-colored house codes, this collection is heavy on the soft pastels and youthful silhouettes. 

The Grammy-Award winning Chinese-Icelandic singer Laufey, whose preppy chic personal style has influenced young fans to get dolled up for her concerts, has also made her first front-row appearance.

The chanteuse is decked in a monochrome mint green Chanel tweed skirt suit with a whimsical tulle collar and embroidered flowers.

3. Armani Privé’s 20th Year Anniversary

Chanel isn’t the only house toasting a milestone. This season, Giorgio Armani raised a glass to his eponymous label’s double decade long haute couture journey. 

As Armani Privé turns 20 years old, their celebratory “Lumière” theme unveils the brand’s archival pieces while playing with the concept of light. The subtle statement gowns, kimono silk pants, slinky shimmering suits, emphasize Armani’s deft hand in tailoring form-flattering silhouettes. 

The Substance actress Demi Moore attended the show in Armani’s glittering black suit completed with a structured peplum hem that cinches at the waist and flares out from the hip. A wink and nudge to Moore’s Oscar nominated role, Elizabeth Sparkle, the sequined jacket draws in the eye with layers of glinting black beaded necklaces.

4. Dior’s Woodland Crinoline Dresses

At Musée Rodin, Dior’s head doyenne Maria Grazia Chiuri churns out signature silhouettes with a twist. Harking back to Saint Laurent’s tenure at the house, we can spot updated versions of his iconic designs like the Trapeze Line and the Cigale. 

The French label’s latest collection deconstructs its previous tropes, using an antique dark color palette and distressed shreds of fabric to emphasize the familiar yet other-worldly look. Their crinoline dresses, in particular, are draped with diaphanous fabrics and floral appliqués so the original caged-like construction is still visible underneath.

You might have spotted a custom version of the dresses on Ariana Grande’s 2025 Critic’s Choice Awards Look. The Wicked star wears a skin-colored netted gown with tentacle-like flowers hanging off the structured crinoline.

5. Louis Vuitton’s Lobster Bag

For his latest Louis Vuitton collection, Pharell Williams has dabbed up one of his previous collaborators, Nigo, the Japanese streetwear designer slash Kenzo’s artistic director.

The pair’s artistic vision goes way back to 2003 when they established the joint clothing brand, Billionaire Boys Club and Ice Cream. Situated at the Louvre, the duo’s reunion displays kitschy Japanese motifs like cherry blossoms and the now viral lobster-shaped handbag. 

The body of the lobster bag is made from the famous monogrammed Damier print , finished with caramel colored pincer, claws, and antennae. Its alleged hefty price tag ($18,000) may have contributed to the buzz. 

The collection also hung red lobster bag charms onto classic LV bags, playing into the purse personalization trend à la Jane Berkin.

6. Valentino’s Anachronistic Gowns

After his seven year stint at Gucci, Alessandro Michele ventures into his first couture collection at Valentino with a collage of cultural references. From Stanley Kubrick’s Barry Lyndon to Virginia Woolf's Orlando to his mother’s closet, Michele reaches into wardrobes of the past with his signature campy touch. 

Held at Palais Brongniart, we are greeted with majestic floor length Victorian dresses and jester-like ballooned pants. The exaggerated classic silhouettes interplay with saturated neon hues, accordion pleats, and harlequin patterns. 

7. Saint Laurent’s Ultra Thigh High Boots

Under the stewardship of Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent has been keeping up with its sensual and suave sartorial signature.

With its cloak and dagger aesthetics, models stormed down the runway with the kinkiest of boots. The leathered footwear goes all the way up to the model’s upper thigh (and probably higher if you’re not of runway-model height). 

Vaccarello cites the legendary 80’s photographer Robert Mapplethorpe’s chic yet rebellious fashion sensibilities as the key muse for these sexy BDSM boots.

8. Hed Mayner’s Extra Oversized Suits

Keeping up with the “more is more” theme, Hed Mayner’s latest collection turns the simple idea of an oversized blazer to the max. 

Already recognized for his voluminous silhouettes and loose-fitted clothing, Mayner’s centerpiece for Paris Fashion Week 2025 is the smoky double breasted pinstripe suit. 

The sharp arrow-like lapels are exaggerated to match its tubular sleeves and matching ballooned slacks. The look is not complete without a long dangling chain.

9. LOVERBOY’s Queer Underground Fashion, Goes Above Ground

Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey’s LOVERBOY, put up a “Fight Night” theme for this season’s spectacle. Known for his punk, gender-bending designs, Jeffrey brought out underground queer culture and dress codes to the streets of Paris Fashion Week 2025.

The collection debuts with oversized animal ear beanies and progressively gets kinkier with the styling of fishnet tights and bondage style corsets. 

10. Feng Chen Wang’s Alien Shoes

Feng Chen Wang’s shoe game has been going strong ever since the Chinese designer’s  “2 in 1” Converse collaboration took off. This time around, she has taken pages out of Shan Hai Jing’s ancient folklore The Classic of Mountains and Seas for her anticipated project with Uggs. 

Inspired by mythical creatures, it's not a wonder how her shoes have morphed into animalistic and eccentric stompers. The massive clunky slip ons are a hybrid of molten lava and beast-like hooves. And are sure to make a lasting footprint on this season’s fashion landscape.