Parisian Retail Trends: Sheer, Shiny, Glamorous and Lots of 2000s

PARIS — The return to a full, in-person, and jam-packed Paris Fashion Week schedule has left shoppers enthused by the city's energy (despite the traffic) and the designers' newfound creativity.

The continued strength of the year 2000 was remarkable, while denim remained essential with waist cuts bass and coordinated highs and lows having a major moment. Figure-hugging column dresses and lingerie-inspired pieces from the likes of Saint Laurent and Victoria Beckham have been cited as major silhouettes this season, although tailoring and understated elegance have made their mark in The Row's collections and Stella McCartney.

"We witnessed a dressy, elevated, chic and sophisticated aesthetic that dominated the collections . There was a general feeling of positivity and optimism throughout the week,” said Simon Longland, head of menswear and womenswear at Harrods.

An all-black palette for summer stood out, with pops of bright and neon colors always in style, while daytime embellishments, including the resurgence of sequins, added an air of festive fun. The pendulum swung from heavy leather to sheer fabrics, with many looks revealing acres of skin.

Jonathan Anderson's Loewe collection was singled out for its creative use of a floral theme and twist playful on proportions — while still being portable. “They are always the perfect blend of conceptual and commercial,” said Lily Page, Market Director at Net-a-porter. His oversized sweatshirts, shrunken bomber jackets and balloon shoes have been cited as staples.

Dries Van Noten also signed for his use of sculptural volume, colorblocking and floral blends unexpected. Anthony Vaccarello's Saint Laurent collection also stood out with its column dresses and oversized coats, while Chitose Abe's Sacai was well received for its pleated details and bomber jackets.

Ludovic de Saint Sernin has stood out among emerging talents with his latest gender-fluid collection, and Kevin Germanier too caught the eye of shoppers despite Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, hosting a surprise show in the same timeslot that grabbed headlines with negative buzz.

One ​​of the most mentioned collections of the week was Demna's Balenciaga for everything from inviting unique to its muddy pit set. But by far Coperni made the biggest splash with Bella Hadid's spray dress, an instantly iconic moment that