The triumphant return of in-person fashion shows in Paris (or New York on a rescheduled date after a deluge of unexpected rain, if you’re Pyer Moss) also marked the return of the internet’s favorite part of fashion week — street style.
The fascination that surrounds fashion week street style needs no explanation. When the entire fashion industry gathers to celebrate a major designer’s new collection, naturally we want to know what fashion’s biggest players (and newest arrivals) will be wearing. The streets of Paris hosted swaths of attendees Haute Couture Week’s Fall 2021 season and when it came to street style, the joy was palpable. CR takes a look at some of the best trends amongst the most stylish attendees below.
Pops of Primary Color
From French blue to crimson red, Paris street style gave us an abundance of color in the form of statement bags and shoes. Primary colors red, blue, and yellow seemed to be the hues of choice for this particular season. Christy Turlington, standing next to Naomi Campbell, is pictured wearing a bright blue crossbody bag while street style darling Leonie Hanne chose a poppy red sweater for the Chanel show. This return to simple, joyful colors has allowed for the usage of solid reds, blues, and yellows to act in place of typical neutrals and shadow tones like black, white, and brown.
(Mis)matching Sets
In pursuit of controlled chaos and freedom of expression, this street trend is the result of the outcry for individuality as after the explosive popularity of matching sets. The trick is to pair two similar pieces from different designers that were never intended to be worn together, creating a dissonance that’s just enough for the most sartorially-savvy. Some chose two variations on a print like gingham, while others like Florence Pugh went for a maximalist combination that relied on harmonious colors to tie different prints together.
Secure the Bag
Each season the question seems to be whether we reach for the big purse or the little purse. This time around, attendees chose to go big — statement-wise, that is. The accessory that carries our iPhones and ties our outfits together showed up on several street style stars in enviable printed, graphic, and structured iterations that we’re dying to get our hands on. Bags are trending towards becoming works of art themselves rather than just vessels of practicality, aligning beautifully with the Fall/Winter 2021 season’s themes of materiality and accent decor.
It’s a Blue, Blue, Blue World
Shades of blue painted the streets of Paris as attendees reached for bright sky, indigo, and royal cerulean. While blue acted as the focal point for Suzy Menkes’ ensemble, others took to all-American denim to act as a jumping-off point for the rest of their outfit as the fabric continues to take over the closets of many as a neutral staple piece. Blue denim also remains a favorite of those known for their breezy, model-off-duty (or on-duty) style.
Suiting for All
Haute Couture Week proves again that the menswear trend is still reigning strong and isn’t going anywhere any time soon. The blazer is arguably the It-jacket of the season and was seen on many an attendee either draped over shoulders or paired with a wide-leg pant for a very Parisian-inspired look. Variations were seen in every color and print from classic plaid to more subdued shades of navy and pastel lavender.
Fringe Love
As seen on Bella Hadid and attendees for Zuhair Murad and Jean-Paul Gaultier, the 70’s continue to dominate as with the slow yet steady arrival of the fringe trend, which we see adorning skirts, dresses, and jacket sleeves. This movement-capturing trend isn’t limited to just camel brown and brushed suede, either — see Bella’s sequined strips of barely-there tulle that create a more modernized version of the same effect.
