Following on from a packed showing in Milan, Paris Fashion Week is back at its very best to challenge the conventional ideas of menswear. Once again, like in Milan, the name of the game is bursts of colour and innovative creations to contrast the traditions of formal men’s fashion. Top designers from around the world, including the heavy hitters such as Givenchy, Dior Homme, Louis Vuitton and Hermès, are finding new ways to have fun with the modern notion of masculinity.
Running from June 21 until June 26, Paris Fashion Week is off with a dense lineup of more than 80 brands on the calendar, including 40 runway presentations as well as a digital show broadcasting live as it did at Milan Fashion Week.
Day 1 began with Bluemarble opening the runway calendar. This up-and-coming French label had to deal with soaring temperatures in the French capital, but its take on the ‘90s with some skater gear and surfwear set the tone. It’s all about unwinding in Paris. Egonlab, Tack, and Études closed off the first evening.
Day 2 started early with a Bianca Saunders show, the designer returning for its second participation at Paris Fashion Week Men’s with a collection inspired by nostalgia going even further back to the ‘70s. Think relaxed denim and earthy tones. Day 2 however was highlighted by the afternoon presentation from Givenchy, with models looking like extras on the set of Mandalorian. The futuristic collection includes the main talking point, a shoe, or rather the Givenchy TK-360 sneaker, featuring an aggressively curved sole with a mesh and synthetic leather upper, and available in white, black, silver and yellow, silver and green, and black and yellow. Creative Director at Givenchy, Matthew M. Williams, describes it as his dream shoe.
“This show is a reflection of myself and the men who surround me, from my close friends to the artists who inspire my work,” said Williams. “It’s a dialogue with the time and culture that shape the way men dress today and tomorrow: the way new generations embrace and evolve the archetypes and dress codes of the past through their own progressive outlook. It’s a thrilling evolution and the reason I have chosen this moment to stage a stand-alone men’s show for Givenchy.”
There’s still much to look forward to at Paris Fashion Week men’s, including shows by Issey Miyake, Louis Vuitton, Paul Smith, Dior Homme, Hermès, and Kenzo.
