It's Concept

Paris 
In every aspect of his execution, Rick Owens’ mesmerised at Paris Fashion Week through his subdued use of colour, extreme silhouettes and a focus on highly haunting conceptualism. Inspired by Picasso’s cardboard cut-outs of white doves, the elegance, sophistication and use of rigidity in material evokes feelings of freedom and a sense of spine chilling dominance.

In complete contrast to the heat of acid colours shown in Milan and London, Paris became alive with ideas of androgyny, Rock Chic and couture punk. Maison Martin Margiela embraces his ability to drastically distort the female figure within his latest collection through his concept of ‘men’s wardrobe meets the woman’s body’.  Radically squared off shoulders and clean, crisp shapes embrace the female body and a sense of the clothing restricting the model is apparent. An injection of hot pink intrudes the very neutral palette and only momentarily distracts you from the drastically distorted silhouette.

Similarly, Viktor and Rolf have opted for the man’s shirt as inspiration creating short shirtdresses, some of which were tailored one side and softly draped off the shoulder creating the perfect balance of fluidity with a masculine punch. A tribute to mid west America saw the unforgiving intensity of studded jackets, distressed pin embellished shorts and unapologetic attitudes presented by the top models of today. Balmain’s newest collection can only be described as ‘hardcore’ couture punk. Accompanying 1000-dollar shorts with distressed tights and shredded jeans showed the gritty influences of the collection that came just two days into Paris Fashion Week, this was a stark contrast to the optimistic colours of Milan. A cross over of masculine and feminine clothing is echoed in the punk couture collection by Balenciaga. Reminiscent of 80’s British fashion, the rigorous collection boasted hounds tooth patterns, lace and leather.