Paris Fashion Week - Men's Fall/Winter 2024

Paris, the fashion capital of the world, once again played host to a dazzling display of creativity and style with star-studded guests during the Men's Fashion Week from January 16th to January 21st 2024. Following Milan, renowned fashion houses showcased their latest collections, setting the tone for the upcoming trends for the season. Among the standout shows were Loewe, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Rick Owens, and Balmain, each presenting a unique vision that captivated the fashion enthusiasts and left people talking. Paris Fashion Week marks the end of men’s fashion month but there’s still plenty to talk about, so let’s deep dive into some of our favourites.

Loewe

Under the creative direction of Jonathan Anderson, Loewe’s show in Paris this year caught eyes and not just because of the vivid colours in their collection. The show played on the juxtaposition of traditional and contemporary, which was first seen from the setting itself. The show was set amid a cathedral where stained-glass windows were hit with projections of Loewe’s models alongside small cartoon illustrations. Anderson’s intention was to make the show feel like a collage which implied youthfulness, the breaking away from tradition and an overall commentary on the modern world. He pushed the boundaries of modern menswear through his incorporation of bright colours, bare skin and lots of leather! His use of colour in the collection played into the youthfulness element by giving the collection a playful feel. The looks were often paired with half belts and jumbo bags - which seem to be a trend throughout men’s fashion month. This show certainly reinforced Loewe’s reputation of challenging the status quo.

Dior

Underneath a ceiling lined with stars Dior raised the bar and the stage with their runway in Paris. Creative Director Kim Jones said the collection was inspired by her late uncle, in particular a photograph that he took of famed soviet ballet dancer Rudolf Nureyev. Nureyev inspired the theming of the show as well as the garments themselves.The style was a quiet luxury aesthetic emulating his elegance both on and off the stage. The music was from the Dance of the Knights in the ballet Romeo and Juliet feeding into the balletic theme. The apparel was a mix of muted neutrals adorned with a masculine twist on the ballet pump, the outfits were kept very simple with an absence of accessories apart from small earrings on some models. Some models adorned wrapped headscarves in the style that Nureyev would often wear during rehearsals. The feature pieces of the collection were colourful kimonos, which were one of the only pops of colour in the collection, an item that was a key feature of Nureyev’s style. The finale was all of the models displayed on a tiered turnstyle floor which rotated for the audience. The collection was giving dancers on the go and we loved it!

Louis Vuitton

Pharrell Williams was back again after making his debut as creative director for Louis Vuitton last summer. His collection at Paris Fashion week for the men’s Autumn/Winter collection was an ode to the archetype of Americans - the cowboy. He aimed to have a more accurate depiction of the American cowboy, black men have been largely excluded from the narrative of the cowboy in mainstream media so Williams wanted to pay homage to that section of black history for a more authentic depiction of the American cowboy. The set design depicted a stereotypical dessert setting with stacked rocks and tumbleweed. The collection fed into western depictions of the cowboy with leather chaps, big statement belts, bolo ties and cowboy hats the colour palette stuck to earth tones featuring plenty of denim and brown leather. The collection blended the style of a classic cowboy with a contemporary edge to make iconic looks that made a statement for Pharell William’s second runway as creative director for Louis Vuitton.

Rick Owens

Known for his avant-garde aesthetics, Rick Owens brought a dark ‘out of this world’ glamour to Paris Fashion Week 2024. The show was very intimate as it was held inside Owens’ Parisian home. The colour palette was dominated by deep, moody tones and unfitted rounded silhouettes. Models were all almost fully covered from head to toe, sporting full body onesies including gloves and a balaclava paired with rubber bubble-esque boots. The looks created an alien feel which was emphasised through the crazy makeup and blacked out eyes. The collection embodied a sense of rebellion and individualism, challenging traditional notions of beauty. Owens’ has continually pushed the boundaries of menswear, inviting the audience to embrace a bold and unapologetic approach to fashion.

Paris Fashion Week Men's 2024 proved to be a showcase of creativity, where established and emerging designers alike turned their visions to reality. From Dior's modern elegance to Rick Owens' avant-garde aesthetics, each designer left a mark on the fashion landscape. As the curtains close on this spectacular event, the fashion world eagerly anticipates the influence of the collections in fashion weeks to come.