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The Fashion Memo

5 Street-Style Trends From Haute Couture Week

L-R: Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Pidgeon, Alexa Chung

From the enduring appeal of monochrome to a new way to wear sequins, these are the trends that defined the front row at Haute Couture Week

Fashion

As one of the highlights of the fashion calendar, Haute Couture Week always draws an A-list crowd. Last week, the stars descended on Paris to sit front row at Schiaparelli, Christian Dior, Chanel, Elie Saab and Balenciaga (where Pierpaolo Piccioli presented his first couture collection for the house), sporting the latest trends on and off the runway. Among the perfectly styled celebrities delivering haute-worthy looks were Lupita Nyong’o, Sarah Pidgeon and Alexa Chung, whose outfits are inspiring our latest foray into sequins, monochrome dressing and cascading florals, respectively. Here’s our pick of standout trends and how to wear them now.

In order of appearance: Cate Blanchett (wearing black suit), Cindy Bruna, Deva Cassel

Modern monochrome

Despite the unexpected color combinations that keep cropping up on the runways (see: Balenciaga and Imane Ayissi), the front row at Haute Couture Week was awash with modern monochromatic outfits. A longstanding code of the house of Chanel, black and white is always a chic choice, as evidenced by former PORTER cover star Sarah Pidgeon, who stunned in a drop-waist dress from the Parisian brand. Elsewhere, model Cindy Bruna and actor Cate Blanchett embraced the monochrome palette with impeccabe Giorgio Armani Privé tailoring, while Deva Cassel wore an elegant head-to-toe Dior ensemble.

Fortunately, a black-and-white outfit is one of the easiest Haute Couture Week trends to recreate. Simply pair a crisp tuxedo shirt, from the likes of Bottega Veneta, with Khaite’s sharply cut ‘Grenare’ pants and sleek accessories for a look that’s pared-back but incredibly polished.

  • BOTTEGA VENETA
    Paneled cotton-blend shirt
    $1,470.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36
    38 - low stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
  • YEPREM
    18-karat white gold, diamond and sapphire earrings
    $47,525.00
  • KHAITE
    Grenare virgin wool straight-leg pants
    $1,580.00
    Select a Size
    0 - low stock
    2
    4
    6 - low stock
    8
    10
    12
  • JIL SANDER
    Elyss leather ballet flats
    $830.00
    Select a Size
    36
    37 - low stock
    37.5
    38 - low stock
    38.5 - low stock
    39 - low stock
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5
    41

Haute denim

We may have seen denim at Haute Couture Week since Jean Paul Gaultier’s spring 1997 show, but it still feels like an unlikely luxury fabric amid the swathes of silks, satins and tulles that typically dominate the runways. On the front row, however, denim with a point of difference was a go-to. Vera Wang took jeans to new extremes at Dior, while Charlize Theron stepped out in a pair by Chloé with ultra-wide, gathered legs, showing us just how haute this wardrobe staple can be.

Tap into the trend for elevated denim with Agolde’s expertly crafted jeans. The ‘Ren’ silhouette is cut with extra-long and wide legs, delivering the statement-making slouch that the street-style set is coveting right now. Wear yours with Stella McCartney’s lace-trimmed satin camisole and Suzanne Kalan’s dazzling white-gold and diamond necklace for the ultimate expression of high/low styling.

  • STELLA MCCARTNEY
    Lace-trimmed satin camisole
    $1,010.00
    Select a Size
    34
    36
    38 - low stock
    40 - out of stock
    42
    44
    46 - low stock
    48
    50 - out of stock
  • SUZANNE KALAN
    18-karat white gold diamond necklace
    $89,240.00
  • AGOLDE
    Ren Long high-rise wide-leg jeans
    $345.00
    Select a Size
    23
    24
    25
    26
    27
    28
    29
    30
    31
    32
  • GUCCI
    Savoy horsebit-embellished leather-trimmed canvas-jacquard pumps
    $1,262.00
    Select a Size
    36
    36.5
    37 - low stock
    37.5 - out of stock
    38
    38.5 - out of stock
    39
    39.5 - out of stock
    40
    40.5
    41
Charlize Theron, wearing ultra-wide Chloé jeans, and Jodie Turner-Smith, layering her denim underneath a white dress
In order of appearance: Alexa Chung (wearing black dress with white flowers), Priyanka Chopra, Christine Centenera

Dimensional blooms

Fashion’s love affair with flowers showed no signs of slowing down this season. On the runways, Schiaparelli embroidered garments with real petals and Chanel’s fairy-tale set, inspired by Jack and the Beanstalk, bloomed with giant climbing vines and buds. The A-list followed suit, as Alexa Chung and Priyanka Chopra arrived at Dior with florals cascading from their dresses, serving ample inspiration for your next alfresco hosting outfit.

If you’re not yet a couture client, Dries Van Noten’s georgette blouse is the next best thing. The brand continues to prove its mastery of print, reimagining florals through mismatched styling and clashing colors that feel perfectly attuned to the new season. Meanwhile, Alaïa’s slinky jersey fabric is ruched through the front with couture-like precision, creating an effortlessly flattering silhouette. Consider this piece your entry point into the atelier’s made-to-measure offering.

  • ALAÏA
    Jersey floral-print maxi dress
    $3,045.00
    Select a Size
    34 - out of stock
    36 - out of stock
    38 - out of stock
    40 - out of stock
    42 - out of stock
    44
  • CAROLINA HERRERA
    Floral-print silk-chiffon blouse
    $1,630.00
    Select a Size
    0
    2 - low stock
    4 - low stock
    6 - low stock
    8 - low stock
    10 - out of stock
  • JIL SANDER
    Floral-print satin midi skirt
    $1,145.00
    Select a Size
    38 - low stock
    40 - low stock
    42 - out of stock
    44
    46 - low stock
    48
  • DÔEN
    Benoit tiered gathered floral-print ramie midi dress
    $440.00
    Select a Size
    xx small - low stock
    x small
    small
    medium
    large
    x large - low stock
    xx large - out of stock

All-day embellishment

Haute couture is the height of craftsmanship, where the atelier’s petites mains showcase their savoir-faire through expert tailoring, precise pattern making and, above all, exquisite embellishment. Feathers, beads and embroidery were all seen on showgoers, but what really stood out were the sequined styles worn by Lupita Nyong’o and model Paloma Elsesser at Chanel.

While we’re all drawn to heavily embellished designs, such as Clio Peppiatt’s ‘Soléa’ gown come dusk, Nyong’o and Elsesser’s looks glistened in the sunlight, inspiring us to take our sequin pieces out of our eveningwear rotation. To make this trend work for day, try styling Tory Burch’s midi skirt with a T-shirt and heeled flip flops – guaranteed to make dressing feel fun again.

  • RABANNE
    Sequined silver-tone chainmail mini dress
    $3,665.00
    Select a Size
    36
    38 - low stock
    40
    42
  • TORY BURCH
    Sequin-embellished mesh-jersey midi skirt
    $760.00
    Select a Size
    0 - out of stock
    2 - out of stock
    4
    6
    8 - out of stock
    10
    12
    14
  • CLIO PEPPIATT
    Soléa embellished tulle gown
    $5,155.00
    Select a Size
    x small - low stock
    small - low stock
    medium - low stock
    large
  • VALENTINO GARAVANI
    DeVain leather-trimmed sequined shoulder bag
    $4,295.00
In order of appearance: Paloma Elsesser (wearing white sequin ensemble), Jordan Roth, Mary Leest
Showgoers including Alexa Demie (wearing sunglasses) added golden accents to their looks

Golden touch

Schiaparelli’s signature gold accents were everywhere at Haute Couture Week, from Elsa’s iconic keyhole motif on musician Bad Bunny’s lapel to the surrealist paintbrush bracelet worn by Heart Evangelista. These accessories and jewelry pieces are fashion-crowd favorites, adding much-needed polish and personality to an all-black outfit. To nail this trend, look no further than Bottega Veneta’s crepe jersey midi dress, which is secured by a sculptural brooch, making it a fool-proof way to incorporate gleaming gold accents to your ensemble. Meanwhile, Sonia Petroff, By Pariah, Ysso and others offer an exquisite selection of emblematic fine jewelry and brooches that set a new standard for accessorizing.

  • BOTTEGA VENETA
    Embellished jersey midi dress
    $3,740.00
    Select a Size
    34 - low stock
    36 - low stock
    38
    40
    42 - low stock
    44 - out of stock
  • OLE LYNGGAARD COPENHAGEN
    Under The Sea 18-karat gold ring
    $3,255.00
    Select a Size
    6 - out of stock
    7
    8
  • KHAITE
    Black leather clutch bag
    $3,475.00
  • GUCCI
    Castello 60 leather pumps
    $1,184.00
    Select a Size
    36 - low stock
    36.5
    37 - low stock
    37.5 - low stock
    38
    38.5
    39 - low stock
    39.5
    40 - low stock
    40.5
    41 - low stock
    42

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