The 5 best moments of Paris Fashion Week Women's FW22

The Paris Fashion Week that just ended was full of noteworthy moments. As usual, the Parisian calendar was the richest of the entire fashion month, with a concentration of appointments, shows and unique locations that keeping track of would make your head spin. The season that took place this year was also difficult and complicated, with the shows and the excitement surrounding them appearing increasingly out of place and unnecessary against the backdrop of one of the most serious humanitarian crises in European history. It was precisely this difficult situation that led to contradictions of tone and intent in the shows, but also to the touching tribute of Demna who saw in the Russian attack on Ukraine a reflection of her own personal experience, making the Balenciaga show more meaningful than ever.

So here are the five best moments of Paris Fashion Week Women's FW22.

1. Balenciaga's tribute to Ukraine

The venue and the show had already been organized before the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, nevertheless the transformation of the classic catwalk into a windswept tundra and frost, coupled with Demna's touching letter and poem read by him at the opening of the show, made the whole event meaningful and touching. Surely, Balenciaga's show was the most memorable show of this year's Paris Fashion Week.

2. The hot pink world of Valentino

Parisian shows tend to be spectacular in their variety and opulence. Pierpaolo Piccioli, however, decided that this year the variety was already too much: so Valentino's show became a giant block of hot pink color, with a superb collection that remixed the same shade in an infinite number of different ways, enhancing the materials and construction of the garments. 

3. Loewe's balloons

Loewe is moving towards increasingly surrealistic territories. And during this show we saw what could be the accessory of the year: a sculpted balloon that has been turned into a shoe heel or inserted as a decoration between the folds of clothing. The balloon, which is solid, appears illusionistically bent as if it were actually compressed and about to explode or fly away. We have never seen Jonathan Anderson so imaginative.

4. The Row lands in Paris

The Row's collection, shown in Paris without a livestreaming, in compliance with the Olsen twins' decrees of utmost and absolute discretion, was the hit everyone expected. Not that Paris lacked a minimalist ultra-luxury brand - yet it was the French capital, more than New York, that seemed suited to host a brand with such lofty aspirations as The Row. Many American designers have found success in Paris in the past, from Virgil Abloh to Matthew Williams - the Olsen twins could be next.

5. Miu Miu revives its menswear line

An essential moment of Paris Fashion Week was the return of menswear in Miu Miu's collections. After disappearing for fourteen years (the original men's line was closed in 2008) menswear made its big comeback riding on the immense planetary success the brand attracted to itself with the raw cut preppy suits shown last season. Needless to say, the return of menswear at Miu Miu is perhaps one of the most exciting news this season.