fashion

Just 16 Gorgeous Outfits From Couture Week

Couture looks from Valentino, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Givenchy. Photo: Getty Images

There’s something delightfully anachronistic about haute couture fashion shows. Everything about it is painfully rarefied. The governing body of couture, the Fédération Française de la Couture, only allows 16 official couture designers. More designers show, but they’re just “guests” of the Fédération. By definition, couture is custom-made, often handmade, and ludicrously expensive. So it’s not really about trends or what people will wear — it’s just a showcase of the very best tailoring and artistry. Which means it’s over-the-top and very fun to look at.

The Spring/Summer 2020 couture shows just wrapped up in Paris. Jean Paul Gaultier took his final bow after 50 years in the fashion industry, and his show had a whopping 174 looks. Gigi Hadid, Dita von Teese, and Coco Rocha walked (or in Rocha’s case, Irish jigged) down the runway. At Valentino, Pierpaolo Piccioli made liberal use of feathers, headpieces, and trains. The models had heavily hair-sprayed bouffants, like ladies who lunch taken to the nth degree.

If big billowing gowns aren’t your thing, maybe Chanel’s prim schoolgirl dresses (featuring socks over tights with loafers) or Ronald van der Kemp’s swaggering ’80s clubwear are more your speed. In any case, below are 16 lush, extravagant couture outfits to fuel your sartorial fantasies.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Jean Paul Gaultier. Photo: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Imagine putting your lower half in a mesh birdcage, just for fun!

Photo: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Tom of Finland, meet low-rise pants. Pants, meet Tom. We foresee the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Ronald van der Kemp

Ronald van der Kemp. Photo: Richard Bord/Getty Images

The emcee in Cabaret could never.

Robert van der Kemp Photo: Richard Bord/Getty Images

Do you feel the Bianca Jagger vibes? I feel the Bianca Jagger vibes.

Chanel

Chanel. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Socks over tights: a trick you can try at home.

Ralph & Russo

Ralph & Russo. Photo: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Someone wear this for awards season. Chartreuse silk is only improved by chartreuse feathers.

Christian Dior

Christian Dior. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The theme of the show was “What if women ruled the world?” A lot of the dresses were Greek goddess–inspired, but we like this blood-red interpretation.

Schiaparelli

Schiaparelli. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

The show was a testament to jewelry. If decorating your dress with gold and crystals is not enough, try adding some to your face.

Schiaparelli. Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

Probably heavy, but definitely worth the extra weight. Look at those nipple tassles!

Givenchy

Givenchy. Photo: Victor Virgile/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images

Designer Clare Waight Keller showed several of these giant hats — for when you want to make a statement but don’t want anyone standing near you.

Valentino

Valentino. Photo: Pietro D’Aprano/Getty Images

Don’t ask where one would wear a dress with face-obscuring feathers. It’s about the fantasy that someone could.

Valentino. Photo: Pietro D’Aprano/Getty Images

Love the turtleneck under the evening gown.

Iris van Herpen

Iris van Herpen. Photo: Thomas Samson/AFP via Getty Images

This is an absolutely perfect maternity dress for Grimes.

Maison Margiela

Maison Margiela. Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

This almost-destroyed society lady getup is a little Grey Gardens, no?

Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty Images

Which is the star: the fur bucket hat, the purple mesh veil, the cape, or the Tabi shoes?

Guo Pei

Guo Pei. Photo: Aitor Rosas/Getty Images

Elsa from Frozen, but make it fashion.

Just 16 Gorgeous Outfits From Couture Week