Paris Women’s Fashion Week, which concludes on Tuesday, showcased several dominant trends, including fur and leather, oversized shoulder pads and shoes, and splashes of yellow.
Fur Makes a Statement
Fur, primarily faux, remained a prominent feature across Fall/Winter 2025 collections. Designers incorporated it in both subtle and bold ways, ranging from embellishments to primary materials. At Chloé, fur appeared as a stole, on jacket sleeves, lapels of long coats, and even as fox-tail-style charms on handbags. Rabanne integrated it into large leather coats, transparent PVC trench coats, and skirts, while Balenciaga and Alaïa presented several striking long fur coats.
Despite its presence on the runway, real fur remains controversial. Unlike London, Paris has not banned it from catwalks, leading to protests from animal rights activists, including PETA and the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, during the event.
Leather Dominates
Leather also played a significant role in the collections, appearing in coats, trousers, skirts, dresses, and tops. It was nearly impossible to find a brand that did not incorporate the material. Stella McCartney, known for her commitment to animal rights, introduced vegan leather pieces, including a snakeskin-effect blouse and a skirt that combined vegan leather in the front with wool at the back.
Expanding Shoulders
Oversized jackets, a recurring trend, featured even larger, more structured shoulders this season. While waistlines showed signs of becoming more cinched, shoulders were dramatically padded, creating a bold silhouette. Many jackets appeared as if they contained large hangers inside due to their rigid structure. This exaggerated shoulder trend was seen at Balmain, Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Givenchy, Vivienne Westwood, and Matieres Fecales. Fashion journalist Matthieu Bobard Deliere from Elle remarked, “Shoulders are exploding.”
Oversized Footwear
The trend of exaggerated proportions extended to footwear, with oversized shoes making a strong impression. Victoria Beckham’s collection featured long black patent shoes with ankle straps, ensuring they remained secure. Her Friday night show, attended by her family, displayed a chic and mostly monochrome aesthetic. Large shoes and thigh-high oversized boots also appeared in collections from Vivienne Westwood by Andreas Kronthaler, Loewe, Balenciaga, and Balmain.
Pops of Yellow
In a season dominated by muted tones of grey, black, and white, with hints of autumnal greens and browns, designers introduced bursts of yellow to brighten the winter palette. Givenchy’s new designer, Sarah Burton, embraced yellow in bodysuits, coats, crop tops, mesh dresses, and an eye-catching strapless tulle gown, marking her widely praised debut for the historic Parisian house. Yellow evening dresses also featured in collections from Tom Ford and Stella McCartney.
Deconstructed Designs
Deconstruction emerged as a strong theme, with designers reimagining traditional garments. Coats were worn inside-out, trousers were transformed into dresses, and skirts were cut asymmetrically. Fashion journalist Deliere noted, “There’s a real trend of deconstructing clothing.” Both emerging designers and established fashion houses embraced this approach. AlainPaul showcased sweaters with a single sleeve, while Zomer introduced a reversible collection where dresses, jackets, shirts, and coats could be worn back-to-front. Givenchy featured long blazers styled in reverse, while Vivienne Westwood presented skirts with dramatic length variations, short on one side and long on the other.
Paris Women’s Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2025 highlighted a mix of innovation, nostalgia, and bold statements, setting the tone for the upcoming season.
Related Topics
- Louis Vuitton Fall 2025: Nicolas Ghesquière Takes Fashion on a Cinematic Train Journey
- Meta Launches Limited-Edition Ray-Ban Smart Glasses in Collaboration with Coperni at Paris Fashion Week
- Rugged Elegance Meets Refined Luxury at Paris Fashion Week
