That’s it folks. Paris Fashion Week Spring 2021 has wrapped. Which means it’s obviously time to review all its highs and lows.
All eyes were definitely on Christian Dior as Maria Grazia Chiuri got things going at the Jardin des Tuileries. Olivier Rousteing paid homage to Balmain‘s heritage with his collection. (Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian and others virtually sat in the front row.) Isabel Marant transported us to the 80s — again. Conversely, Matthew M. Williams unveiled his first collection as Givenchy’s creative director.
While the clothes took center stage, the sets were something to behold. Virginie Viard erected a larger-than-life Chanel sign in the Grand Palais. And Nicolas Ghesquière absolutely went all out. How? By turning a former department store into a sci-fi space to flaunt Louis Vuitton’s latest offering.
Click through the slideshow above for all the hits and misses of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2021. Well, at least according to our no-holds-barred forum members.
Hits and Misses PFW Spring 2021
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HIT: Louis Vuitton
"The pants are great. The man knows how to cut a mean pair of pants. The jackets are great. Lots of details, but it doesn't feel as heavy and complicated as his most recent collections. There's a very masculine and tomboy vibe in the styling. One of the best shows this season." [reese06]
"There’s a sense of lightness and protection that I love from this collection. Those big shapes, the incredible outerwear and also those beautiful pants... The cut of those pants is kinda exceptional. They are terrific! The bags were amazing!" [Lola701]
"Those jackets are incredible!" [JohannesL]
See all the looks from the Louis Vuitton collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Chanel
"Terrible. All the girls look abysmal and all the fits look off. It's like she tried to design five collections all at once." [Nomar]
"Not only does this collection feel bland, it's also tone-deaf. They produced 70 looks, the majority of them plastered with Chanel's logo. At the same time, I'm not sure if Chanel people know anything about social distancing and limiting their number of guests because the audience was seriously crowded." [perhydrol]
"Very girly, pretty and safe. Nothing particularly memorable...I guess that would be my description for Virginie's tenure in general." [YohjiAddict]
See all the looks from the Chanel collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Paco Rabanne
"Solid collection, one of his best since 2019!" [GERGIN]
"Loving the chain mail looks. Hope to see them in print a lot, especially the gold one." [russianelf]
"Absolutely fabulous! I liked every single look. I wanted more and more watching the show. The mix between very commercial/down-to-earth pieces to the more artisanal and innovative ones was well-balanced. Fabrics were gorgeous. Favorite show for me from this season." [GivenchyAddict]
See all the looks from the Paco Rabanne collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Christian Dior
"I can't believe THIS is what Christian Dior has been reduced to." [GoldenPetals]
"I've literally become allergic to those sheer evening gowns she presents each and every season without fail." [YohjiAddict]
"Man this is mediocre. Even for her low, low, loooowwwwww standards." [Norden]
See all the looks from the Christian Dior collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Acne Studios
"This is sheer, subtle and very modern. I love the color palette, the different textures used as well as the iridescent fabrics." [Valentine27]
"I think it's curated and styled well. Nice color palette." [reese06]
"This is insanely good. Prada you better take some notes about how to make a decent presentation without being pretentious. The whole atmosphere was so nice, so welcoming." [helmutnotdead]
See all the looks from the Acne Studios collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Chloe
"What a mess!" [FashionFanatico]
"It's a collection for everyone. You can't afford Nicolas Ghesquière's Vuitton or want an archival piece from Prada? Chloe has you covered." [RaisinBoy]
"This was a mess! The clothes were ugly, there's no other way to put it." [Ruito]
See all the looks from the Chloe collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Elie Saab
"Just beautiful." [liberty33r1b]
"Never change Elie Saab." [GoldenPetals]
"Will start saving up for one of his designs..." [Cory333]
See all the looks from the Elie Saab collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Givenchy
"Not a single original look. Pathetic." [avonlea002]
"I didn't enjoy this at all! Just like Daniel Lee's Bottega Veneta it's all about the accessories!" [Ruito]
"It's lackluster and completely expected. I find it all so passé and lacking in any sense of taste. The tailored suits were obviously thrown in to counterbalance the trashier pieces. Unfortunately, the trash is all that is worth talking about." [GivenchyHomme]
See all the looks from the Givenchy collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Maison Margiela
"It’s very beautiful, very dreamy and romantic and I like the deconstructed pieces. One of the best this season!" [Lola701]
"It is just dreamy, romantic, dark and beautiful." [Olaffo]
"I love this!" [Salvatore]
See all the looks from the Maison Margiela collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Loewe
"Can someone please make a normal lookbook? Or are those ridiculous poses meant to distract us from the lackluster collection?" [Ken Doll Jenner]
"Wow, the first time I am actually disappointed in a Loewe collection. Never thought this day would come. Surprisingly reductive, boring and unedited." [dontbeadrag]
"Jonathan does not want to sell a single piece for the next season..." [jeanclaude]
See all the looks from the Loewe collection.
Image: Courtesy
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HIT: Alexandre Vauthier
"OK, well that’s just fun! Celine Dion is already preordering, I can feel it." [RedSmokeRise]
"Really great lookbook, it sells the clothes, his idea of timeless glamour and more importantly a lifestyle for his ideal woman. The sheer trench is heart-stoppingly sexy." [YohjiAddict]
"It’s always sleek and well-presented." [Lola701]
See all the looks from the Alexandre Vauthier collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Balmain
"You could use those pointy shoulders to open beer bottles or to unscrew furniture. They are ridiculous and not in a good way. All of the colors that aren't navy are...a choice. Wearing neon green is always a sign of something not right with the psyche." [YohjiAddict]
"I see Olivier Rousteing is still committed to his quest of creating the most unflattering, nonsensical silhouettes around." [Marc10]
"The first part reminds me a lot of Thierry Mugler and the rest is a continuation of the Christophe Decarnin era. Sometimes it is sad to see a heritage brand has long lost its house code for almost two decades." [JohannesL]
See all the looks from the Balmain collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Yohji Yamamoto
"Really felt this show and how wild he went, I love the way the copper wiring complements the dark garments. The first few dresses reminded me so much of his Spring 1998 collection, which I adore." [YohjiAddict]
"That last look is absolutely divine. What a work of art." [Nomar]
"True master." [SophiaVB]
See all the looks from the Yohji Yamamoto collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Kenzo
"Oh man! Felipe Oliveira Baptista's debut was so nice! And then this is so student-y!" [Norden]
"The only strong pieces of this collection are unwearable so what’s the point?" [Lola701]
"I’d feel better about this collection if he didn’t overplay the beekeeper thing." [kenndale]
See all the looks from the Kenzo collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Olivier Theyskens
"Absolute perfection. That's all." [avonlea002]
"My goodness, this collection is everything. Olivier has never once compromised his vision and always stayed true to his interpretation of beauty. One of the few who deserve the title of couturier in this day and age." [Reggie63]
"Excellent. Really excellent. So many good clothes here. The gray suit with the beret is delicious, the boat-neck, below-the-knee black dresses are so chic, the ruching is so well done, the transparency is masterfully handled here. Maybe the best transparency I've seen in years." [dior_couture1245]
See all the looks from the Olivier Theyskens collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Balenciaga
"Without the extravagant runway set, Demna Gvasalia's clothes are just...clothes." [Koibito]
"A letdown. I really started to warm up to Demna's Balenciaga in the last few seasons, but this doesn't have the magic I began to expect." [RaisinBoy]
"Remember when Balenciaga used to be one of those houses whose collections everyone looked forward to seeing during the 2000s?" [billiejbob]
See all the looks from the Balenciaga collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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HIT: Coperni
"I love it! One of my favorite collections this season actually." [gossiping]
"Their comeback has been so good. Simple, sleek, youthful without trying too hard. So desirable! A real bright and fresh voice in Paris." [Marc10]
See all the looks from the Coperni collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Isabel Marant
"This woman is obsessed with the 80s." [jeanclaude]
"That was one of the most anxiety-inducing shows I have ever watched." [Salvatore]
"From the clothes to the show, absolutely hideous. Social distancing who? It felt so uncomfortable to watch, so stupid." [helmutnotdead]
See all the looks from the Isabel Marant collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Dries Van Noten
"Is this really from Dries Van Noten? I had to double-check to see an ounce of Dries..." [GivenchyAddict]
"Shockingly uncharacteristic of Dries. It's not for me." [Salvatore]
"Never thought I'd see the day I wouldn't like a Dries Van Noten collection, but here we are!" [Ruito]
See all the looks from the Dries Van Noten collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Altuzarra
"Getting worse each season..." [liberty33r1b]
"Just go back to New York." [helmutnotdead]
"Who on God's green, beautiful earth decided on those foot monstrosities..." [TianCouture]
See all the looks from the Altuzarra collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Miu Miu
"Every look is ruined by an unnecessary detail. I refuse to believe Miuccia Prada thinks it's a good collection. She gives Katie Grand too much creative power." [avonlea002]
"Was Raf Simons also hired to destroy Miu Miu or just the main line?" [jeanclaude]
"While I appreciate the minimal styling, this feels actually like a job done by a stylist rather than a designer." [Lola701]
See all the looks from the Miu Miu collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Hermes
"The shoes ruin everything." [liberty33r1b]
"I can't stand how square her garments are, she's not designing for LEGO figurines!" [YohjiAddict]
"She is the most boring designer ever. How do you even show up to work every day excited about making these clothes?" [dior_couture1245]
See all the looks from the Hermes collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Issey Miyake
"Was this designed by that chick who won Next in Fashion?" [YohjiAddict]
"These prints leave much to be desired, it's like something I would see at Marimekko. It's not necessarily a bad thing per se, but I expect something more from a brand like this." [Nomar]
"Is this a prologue for the launch of a new cheaper line?" [jeanclaude]
See all the looks from the Issey Miyake collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Nina Ricci
"Another disaster with more of those horrible hats they like so much." [jeanclaude]
"Nina Ricci should be so embarrassed by this the same day Olivier Theyskens showed his masterful collection." [dior_couture1245]
"Confounding and awkward... In the end it doesn't make sense for the house and that's the worst part." [YohjiAddict]
See all the looks from the Nina Ricci collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Giambattista Valli
"Is that Giambattista Valli x H&M 2.0? I mean he must be really desperate to survive in any way to put his logo on the T-shirts and belts of those basic bags. The clothes are incredibly bland, it's literally his usual stuff done in a totally nonexciting way." [perhydrol]
"This is like a Chanel by Karl and Dior by MGC for childrenswear." [Lola701]
"It's like he's trying for the Chanel job, but knows he won't get it." [RedSmokeRise]
See all the looks from the Giambattista Valli collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Schiaparelli
"Such a waste of fabric and a waste of the founder's legacy, no attitude and no personality." [YohjiAddict]
"When lack of creativity and imagination is disguised as surrealism." [jeanclaude]
See all the looks from the Schiaparelli collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Rick Owens
"I don't know, I expected something different... Maybe a reset! I wanted maybe a more sensual Rick, like the old days." [Lola701]
"I have the feeling that Rick is having the fashion designer equivalent of writer's block. Years ago his work was dynamic, you could see an evolution with each of his collections." [jeanclaude]
"This feels so irrelevant and kind of pointless." [reese06]
See all the looks from the Rick Owens collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Alaïa
"I always have a soft spot for Alaïa, but this collection is underwhelming." [JohannesL]
"I've always thought Alaïa was only for women wanting to feel powerful and in control, not for girls waiting coyly for their Lifetime movie prince, which is what I'm getting from this lookbook. Isn't Alaïa crazy expensive? Do women wear it with flats and messy hair?" [YohjiAddict]
"The setting is really cheap, too Instagram, almost feels like Alaïa for Mango." [kasper!]
See all the looks from the Alaïa collection.
Image: Courtesy
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MISS: Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood
"If you ever wondered what a fashion show at a rehab facility would look like...and people wonder why professional models are a thing!" [YohjiAddict]
"I hate when designers pose as models. And as for the clothes, it feels like the idea of a 13-year-old beginning the rebel phase of adolescence." [jeanclaude]
"The worst thing that could have ever happened to Vivienne Westwood is Andreas. You can tell the dynamic of their relationship. Like a frustrated/temperamental child that aspired to be a great designer, but never made it." [Gaultier_Bandit]
See all the looks from the Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Marine Serre
"I need this brand to go away now. It's really an emblem of how quickly one can burn out on a kitschy concept and logo. There's nothing here." [SophiaVB]
"It has no soul, it says nothing, there is no concept or idea maybe apart from getting likes on Instagram." [RaisinBoy]
See all the looks from the Marine Serre collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Y/Project
"Mess. Everything looks tired and tortured. There is no concept. Just a pile of random clothes you can find in a local thrift store." [avonlea002]
"Deconstructed mess." [jeanclaude]
"I've never been cool enough to understand this brand...whatever there is to understand." [YohjiAddict]
See all the looks from the Y/Project collection.
Image: Imaxtree
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MISS: Kenneth Ize
"Can someone help me understand the hype around him please?" [reese06]
"Missoni wannabe." [Darko]
See all the looks from the Kenneth Ize collection.
Image: Imaxtree
