Everything to Know About Paris Fashion Week Spring 2024
Paris Fashion Week has officially kicked off in the fashion capital of the world. As fashion month’s last leg of the spring ’24 season, PFW puts forth major runway shows from fashion’s heavy hitters — think Dior, Saint Laurent, Chanel, Louis Vuitton.
But the week also provides something of a global meeting point for various emerging and regional brands to bring their visions to market on a wider platform. Brands and designers in every category, from footwear, jewelry and accessories to ready-to-wear labels of various markets and specializations come to Paris to network and sell, and more buyers from around the world head to the City of Light than anywhere else on the fashion circuit.
This season, a few New York Fashion Week regulars have jumped the pond to show this week, namely Peter Do and Christian Cowan. Do — who presented his vision for Helmut Lang back at NYFW — brought his namesake brand to Paris on Tuesday, with sponsorship from Banana Republic. Cowan, meanwhile, will stage a Friday night extravaganza that will feature a performance by Sam Smith.
Here, a rundown of the most salient footwear moments happening on the runways and throughout the various presentations, events and moments of Paris Fashion Week’s spring ’24 season.
Emerging Designer Caroline Hu Gets a Samba Boost
The Adidas Samba has already seen plenty of collaborations this year, but it saw a much softer turn at the Rêverie by Caroline Hu presentation on Wednesday in Paris, where it was unexpectedly matched with yards of tulle and even a few pillows poking out of the voluminous ensembles shown. While the Samba pairing is not an official collaboration, Hu received sponsorship from the brand, she told WWD.
Saint Laurent Turns to Daywear — But the Heels Stay Sharp
A glittering Eiffel Tower may have remained the Paris postcard backdrop for the show, but at Saint Laurent spring ’24 took a decided turn to daywear, in lieu of the usual noir looks. Drawing inspiration from Amelia Earhart, Adrienne Bolland and other “pioneering” women of traditionally male domains in aviation and car racing, creative director Anthony Vaccarello infused a good deal of menswear influences into the collection. That included flight suits and safari jackets, in softer cottons and linens (no latex here).
The shift to daytime texture did not compromise Vaccarello’s seemingly unwavering push for a high-heeled pump. The lineup included glossy slingbacks with just a sliver more of a heel — instead of a razor sharp stiletto, the heels were slightly fluted. Some also feature tortoise hardware instead of sharper metal. The slingbacks were paired with supple suede gloves that were exceedingly more than the usual car driver’s — but that’s fashion for you.