It might be cold right now, but summer lurks upon the horizon. And welcoming it in style is our sincerest responsibility. Let’s take a look at some of the best spring/summer 2023 collections so far.
Another season of fashion shows has wrapped up as London, Milan, Paris, and New York saw the spring/ summer collections debut for 2023. So, you might still be obsessing over winter fashion, but we at L’Officiel have turned our eyes toward the warmer weather – spring is on the way and we wish to welcome it with style. This is just to say that it is now time to look toward the spring/summer collections for the upcoming year. We wish to be fully prepared as spring opens its wings and that means keeping our wardrobes stocked with the latest apparel and accessories. That said, let’s now talk a bit about the runways for this season.
After the past few years of pandemic-riddled disruptions, cancellations, and then the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, it has been a tough year for the fashion industry. But, proving itself to be resilient enough, it has not only survived, but it has thrived. Many shows had to be postponed, but many went ahead as scheduled, and so, it was business as usual in the other three cities. New York saw Fendi celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Baguette, Paris Hilton made a surprise appearance at the Versace show and Kate Moss walked exclusively for Bottega Veneta. While the bulk of the shows culminated in Paris, many brands opted for other locations – Alexander McQueen travelled to Greenwich, and Celine showed off its Y2K-inspired collection at the beachside. So, let’s not waste any time and take a look at some of the best collections this season.
ALEXANDER McQUEEN
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen chose to present its spring/summer 2023 collection in Greenwich this year. A giant show bubble was erected right on the Thames that served as the runway for the label. The collection was entitled ‘First Sight’ and was inspired by the Dutch Painter, Hieronymous Bosch’s work. The team stripped back the clothes and the focus was on “cut, drape and silhouette.” With this collection, Sarah Burton offered up a host of deconstructed silhouettes that were light as air and cut for flattery and ease of movement. Slashed gowns that looked as if they were made from thick ribbons, long leather asymmetrical skirts cut to reveal a flash of leg were present. Burton also opted to chop out the backs of tailored jumpsuits and sliced-up jackets and short frock coats and later teamed it up with a riff on the McQueen bumster trousers. That’s not all, Burton also decided to venture into new territory this time; drawing inspiration from the world of athleisure. A red bodysuit fit for a 21st century superheroine was spotted. So were stretchy, strappy tops as they peeked from under printed faille and pleated tulle dresses. A denim jacket cut like a bodysuit was paired with low-slung jeans. Burton claimed that her aim was to celebrate individualism as well as empower women, aiming to make clothes for women living in today’s world.
LOUIS VUITTON
Louis Vuitton
For Louis Vuitton’s show, we head back into the Cour Carrée as Nicolas Ghesquière’s longtime French artist friend Philippe Parreno was invited to create an installation. They took the help of James Chinlund – a Hollywood production designer, and created a set that felt like a spaceship had landed in the heart of Paris. Some pieces in the collection looked nothing short of attire aliens would wear so the motif makes sense. In a dramatic display that wrapped up the month of catwalk shows, the models – led by Louis Vuitton ambassador HoYeon Jung – walked around a huge, pulsating ‘monster flower’ in the set’s center. In an examination of femininity’s complexity, Nicolas Ghesquière chose to play with the proportions for LV’s 2023 collection. The brand’s key motifs made an appearance as details like zips, pockets, buckles, and clasps, were zoomed in on. Experimentations with scale occurred, as did magnifying of unexpected accents that brought “the infinitely large and the infinitely small together.” Ghesquière claimed that he used scale to disrupt the codes of femininity. And the impressive fabric development – with tweed dresses being printed and then embroidered – seemed a nice touch to the overall collection.
