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fashion brands, fashion consultant, fashion design team, fashion designer, fashion entrepreneurs, Fashion shows, fashion trends, Milan Fashion Week Spring Summer 2019, Paris fashion week Spring Summer 2019, runway trends, Trend Analysis, Trend comparision
While London and New York are known more for the versatility and styles from several designers, the hallowed halls of Milan and Paris are almost exclusively reserved for high fashion. Several designers come to showcase their collections here, too, but it is often the big names that get the spotlight and the attention that comes with it.
Comparing fashion trends from two events as diverse as the Milan Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week is no small feat. For one, both events attract a very different audience, and the collections, therefore, vary greatly.
There’s a reason why Issey Miyake brought his collection to Paris but not to Milan- his styles are more suited to the cosmopolitan outlook and no-nonsense attitude that dominates Paris. Likewise, we cannot possibly imagine Milan without Dior- the temple of fashion has been the brand’s second, more accepting home for a long time.
Without further ado, let us plunge right into the fashion trends from both events, and which one did what better.
- The styles: There are no two European cities that are in as stark a contrast to each other as Paris and Milan. Take the simple skirt, for example. In Milan, the preferences clearly tended towards the pencil variant, while Paris, true to its breezy essence, saw more of the flow variants. Case in point- Miu Miu in Paris and Moschino in Milan.
- The collections: Milan has always been known for its dance with glamour. The SS19 collections were ample proof of this yet again. Paris, on the other hand, has always had this peculiar relationship with all things artistic. Designs at Paris, likewise, were elegant, chic and comfortable to pull off outside of a runway setting.
- The form: The showcase at Milan this year was distinctly feminine. The outfits, even the flowy ones from Gucci, had at least one element that highlighted form. This isn’t so strange considering Milan is known for fashion of the feminine kind- to the point where almost all designs have to conform to the idea of the gender’s appeal. Paris is very laid-back in terms of highlighting one aspect over another. Also, as the last big fashion event of the season, it naturally tends to attract more diverse designs.
- The risk factor: This year, in our opinion, fewer risks were taken in Milan than in Paris. This isn’t to say that it was boring, but there’s no denying the fact that most designs went after the usual styles with a few modifications. Paris was where more styles appeared, and more risks were taken, but not always with the desired outcomes. Some collections fell quite flat, as we’ve pointed out in the Paris Fashion Week Design Trends article.
Which fashion week would we pick over the other? Turns out the choice isn’t as easy for us as it was with New York vs. London. We loved the sheer grandeur of some of the outfits at Milan, while the breezy simplicity of Paris stood out for us as well. If we were really forced to pick, purely from the fashion business perspective, we’d certainly go with Paris. We saw more styles there that have scope for adapting into sets and separates. We also look for trends that have a chance to last longer, and that came through for us at Paris.
Your turn now! What did you love, or hate, about the two extra-big fashion events of the year? Which one did you follow for design inspiration? Tell us in the comments.
Supriya Ghurye is the founder and owner of Fuel4Fashion. She is a Freelance Fashion Designer and Brand Consultant helping fashion brands to create great products from idea to launch. Fuel4Fashion social links: Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram
