Courtesy of Bottega Veneta (2); Chloé; Chanel
Fashion month has wrapped in Paris, leaving us with plenty to consider before spring, and a few ideas we’re tempted to try sooner. We’ve combed through the collections to bring you five of our favorite directions for the season ahead, from skirts worth building an outfit around and lace with everyday potential to fresh pastel pairings, expressive accessories, and dresses that rise to the occasion. What connects them: an invitation to have a little more fun getting dressed—whether that means adding an unexpected finishing touch or making a more dramatic entrance.
Skirt First
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This season’s skirts make a compelling case for building an outfit from the bottom up. Kallmeyer and The Row showed how an intricately textured skirt can give a simple top a new sense of purpose, while Bottega Veneta brought movement to the equation. Prada’s vivid red version needed little accompaniment to make its point. The appeal extends well beyond the runway: these are pieces that can make an old sweater feel considered or a familiar button-down feel evening-ready. Start with the skirt and the rest comes easily.
The New Lace
Lace is especially appealing when it’s not relegated to special-occasion status. This season, designers offered plenty of everyday-wearable possibilities. The Row treated it as an unexpected finishing touch over a utilitarian coat, while Chloé used dark tailoring and sneakers to ground its romantic layers. Isabel Marant’s relaxed shorts gave the fabric a sportier attitude, and Gabriela Hearst’s sweeping dress showed the appeal of a fuller commitment. What connects them is a sense of freedom: Lace can be part of everyday dressing, with as much or as little romance as you like.
More Personality
When even The Row gets playful, we pay attention. Its embroidered ribbon belt and layered necklaces captured a broader mood this season: the pleasure of making familiar clothes feel like your own. Bottega Veneta added a flourish of fringe, Burberry made a dangling brooch the talking point, and Tory Burch embraced decorative accessories, including a bag embellished with beads and sequins. There’s an inviting idea here for anyone with a wardrobe of dependable basics. A few expressive additions can change the whole feeling of an outfit—and offer a reason to revisit what you already own.
Soft Focus
Pastels have an obvious place in a spring wardrobe, and this season’s combinations give us a reason to reconsider how we wear them. Bottega Veneta mixed pink, blue, and pale yellow with an ease that made experimentation feel tempting, while Jil Sander explored the quieter possibilities of lilac, cream, and mint. Chanel gave mint green an unexpected jolt with red shoes, and Marni sharpened pink with dark buttons. We’re drawn to that balance of softness and character. These colors have enough presence to build an outfit around, particularly when you give them an unexpected companion.
A Little More Drama
Spring tends to bring a calendar of weddings, parties, and reasons to dress up, and the runways offered an invitation to go a little bolder. Khaite and Chanel emphasized the waist before letting skirts expand, while Jil Sander embraced sweeping folds and Schiaparelli explored dramatic, asymmetric curves. These are dresses worth making plans for, with silhouettes that do much of the styling work themselves. For your next capital-O Occasion, consider giving shape the spotlight, keeping the finishing touches simple.