Inspired by Couture Week 2023

Last month, swinging sequins, voluptuous silhouettes, masterful cuts, and sophisticated color palettes paraded down the runways in Paris. Fashion’s historical center gifted us another glorious, word-defying season of sheer beauty—and shock. It’s haute couture after all, the métier of magical fashion. Unfortunately, for me, possessing these luxury works of wearable art is one dream too far away, yet, I’m immediately motivated to find a spectacular occasion to recreate my own versions—on a ready-to-wear budget, that is. This sentiment was expressed passionately by Valentino’s creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli; in his characteristic philosophical lens, he wrote:

“...the fact the couture is buyable only from a certain elite is not what makes couture interesting. It’s just an outcome, a part of the process.” The interesting part rather, is that couture “gives you the opportunity to see and think more, it pushes you to embrace what you don’t understand at first, it gives you the right tools to describe your feelings and ideas, ultimately it elevates the human condition.”

Mic drop. That’s the feeling for me—there’s the grand space, the tantalizing music, and, of course, the models gliding (or stomping) down the runway in one-of-a-kind frocks.

The shows revealed some overlapping trends: full skirts with volume starting at the hips were seen across the board, black and blues together were a recurring color palette, and metallics were on display in all forms—beads, sequins, and tinsel. In general, the silhouette was strong.

So, let’s go couture shopping?

In the spirit of magnificent style and storytelling clothes—we’ve selected pieces that reflect the culture of luxury heavyweights, but that resonate with our passion for wearing emerging designers.

Shop the edit below.

Key words: sparkly white, swingy volume, pleated skirts, black patent leather, uniform (girly and historical menswear all at once)

Key words: Josephine Baker, modest mid-length, lingerie bodies under long coats, velvet, 1920s beads, long pleats

Key words: 17th-century Italian harlequin, pastel colors contrasted with graphic lines, black satin, silk satin, masterful cut, blue and black

Key words: pops of fuchsia, feathers, bows, lilac and lime green, massive coats and capes with trains, polka dots, 1980s club kids

Key words: Dante’s Inferno, animal print, corsets, sculpted silhouette

Key words: Masterful cut, confident sensuality, slinky skirts, black and turquoise, cut-outs, lime green, yellow

Key words: Neutral palette with metallics, bolero, classic V-neck, grecian draping, asymmetrical, delicate lace