A Look at 2014's Annual Paris Fashion Shows

30 July 2014

A Look Back at this Summer's Paris Fashion Week...

It is generally accepted that there are four major fashion shows each year, Milan, New York, London and, of course, Paris. In fact, Paris is so popular, it's split up into multiple shows throughout the year, including the famous haute couture, and a dedicated week for men's fashion. The Paris haute couture show is known for its cutting edge and high concept fashion, from the very biggest names in fashion. This year's show was no different, with the likes of Jean Paul Gautier, Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld and Maison Martin Margiela all showcasing their artistic abilities with daring and innovative pieces.

As is the case with all of the major fashion weeks, the celebrities were out en masse. Among the movie stars, singers, television personalities, politicians and uber-popular bloggers, the biggest names to be spotted lining the front row included Harry Potter star Emma Watson, Oscar-winner Jennifer Lawrence, and Sean Penn. Putting aside the ultra-high concept offerings, trends on show during the show were face nets from the likes of Giorgio Armani, and many dresses that took cues from traditional wedding dresses.

Over recent years, men's fashion has found new popularity, and as such, the men's fashion shows have quickly been catching up to their female counterparts. Paris Men's Fashion Week ran for a week before the main show, but what was once a mere sideshow, is now an event in its own right, with fashion-conscious males heading to Paris in their droves to get a glimpse of what will be the next big trend. While there was no singular defining trend that shaped the show, designers like Kenzo and Comme-des-Garcons, known for their bright colours and bold patterns, received much of this year's press coverage.

...and a Look Forward to September's Ready-to-Wear Show

However, it is the Ready-to-Wear Fashion Week this September that is the most tantalising, as there will be plenty of brands on show that will inevitably grace our wardrobes very soon. The autumn show takes place between the 23rd September and 1st October, and will introduce the public to emerging trends, universalised for every day wear, many of which will hit the high-street shops in early 2015.

While it might not be the grandiose spectacle of the haute couture show, the ready to wear event is taken very seriously by fashion buyers and retailers, who will be the ones to decide what will appear in your favourite shop next spring. While many of the events are industry only, some shows will be open to the public, and even if you don't have tickets to the show, there's plenty of celebrity spotting to be had, and the level of street style will be at an all time high.

With events taking place all over the city, you'll need to have a central base for your travels across Paris. The Hotel Amarante Champs-Elysées is located just off the Arc de Triomphe, with excellent Metro links nearby. With two months until Paris Fashion Week, there's still time to take advantage of our Early Bird Offer, guaranteeing you the best value rate when staying with us.