September 24, 2024. After Day 1, the Paris Fashion Week ignited on Day 2, too, with a dazzling array of designers showcasing the visionary collections. The day began with an innovative showcase of spring/summer 2025 collections from Alainpaul, Maitrepierre, and Ruohan, setting the stage for a day filled with artistic ingenuity. Rising talents like Marie Adam-Leenaerdt and Mame Kurogouchi introduced captivating news designs. However, the highlight of Day 2 was Christian Dior and Saint Laurent, who stole the spotlight with their iconic flair.
Alainpaul Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: Inspired from Ballet!
Alainpaul’s Spring 2025 Ready-To-Wear collection was definitely a big highlight of Day 2 at Paris Fashion Week. This latest collection stands out for its inventive use of form (playing with ideas of restriction and release) in designs. Since the launch of Alainpaul, this marks their third collection and the first appearance on the official Paris Fashion Week calendar. The collection was heavily inspired by the Balletcore. Honestly, if I look closely, Balletcore has emerged as a significant trend on the Spring 2025 runway. I mean – it was clearly evident in Simone Rocha’s tutu-inspired show in London, the ribbon-laced footwear and rehearsal garments at Ferragamo in Milan, and the airy, flexible fabrics seen in Alaia’s New York collection. However – Then, I came to know that Alain Paul himself is a trained ballet dancer from Opera Marseille. Eventually, his deep passion for Ballet also served as a significant inspiration for the creation of his Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
| In a backstage interview, Paul said, “Since the first season, I was experimenting with rehearsal studio attire……and all these details stayed in the brand’s identity. But this one is more about movement and a comment on the freedom of movement”. |
If I talk of designs, ‘Innovative’ is the correct word to describe them. Each design perfectly blended high fashion with functionality. For instance, his innovative stretchy stirrup styles – seen not only in pants but also skirts and dresses – can be worn hooked under heeled ballet shoes for a sleek, stretched silhouette. Alternatively, they can be unhooked to achieve a more relaxed look. This spring/summer 2025 collection proved what a master Alain Paul is when it comes to movement and form of silhouettes.
My favorite part of this collection was the designs inspired by contemporary fashion trends, including the use of sheer layers and compressed tulle separates. The use of sheer nylon knits over shirting was a perfect balance between casual and formal styling.
Dior Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: Based on Female Empowerment!
Next comes Christian Dior, which is easily one of my personal favorite fashion houses. No one does it quite like Dior! Just take a few examples, how many memorable moments they have in fashion history – whether it’s the launch of Dior’s “New Look” in 1947, the legendary John Galliano’s era at Dior in the late 1990s and early 2000s, or more recently, their Spring 2017 collection under Maria Grazia Chiuri’s direction. Let’s keep my obsession with Dior aside and focus on their Spring/Summer 2025 collection.
Dior’s Spring 2025 collection is making waves, and for good reason. Set against the backdrop of the Musée Rodin gardens, the runway show on September 24 was a masterclass in modern femininity. This collection marked a significant shift from Dior’s Fall 2024 collection. While fall was all about prim, A-line silhouettes (inspired by the 1960s and 70s era), the Spring 2025 collection brought forward the curve-hugging performance of fabrics and bold cutouts. Like some of her past collections, creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri focused on female empowered through this collection.
Chiuri took creative inspiration for this collection from the ancient warrior Diana of Versailles (an ancient Roman statue housed in the Louvre). Moreover, she drew parallels between ancient history and Christian Dior’s Fall 1951 Amazone dress (which was also inspired by similar sentiments of women’s empowerment).
| In the show notes, Chiuri explains, “Aims to bring fashion back to its origins and emphasize the relationship connecting the body and what dresses it.” |
Since the theme was women’s empowerment, the Paris 2024 Olympics also significantly inspired Chiuri. The collection paid tribute to Dior’s longstanding connection to sport, merging high fashion with athleticism.
I would also like to make a special mention of the soundtrack to the runway show. The music choices in Dior’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection were just KILLER! It featured FKA Twigs’s “Eusexua” and Charli XCX and Bille Eilish’s “Guess”. The music was everything! They cleverly hinted at Chiuri’s iconic see-through tulle dresses.
Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: A Tribute to Yves Saint Laurent!
Let me say it right now: “Paris Fashion Week Day 2 felt like my personal Roman Empire”. I mean, the amount of iconicness (If that’s a word) I witnessed on September 24 is for contemporary fashion history books. My favorite, Miss BELLA Hadid, made a comeback on the runway after two whole years. She walked the runway in a black, wide-shouldered coat like a true DIVA! An attitude, the face card, eyes – everything was giving! Thanks to Anthony Vaccarella for making this possible.
Speaking of Anthony, let me talk about the latest collection at Paris Fashion Week Day 2.
Saint Laurent’s Spring/Summer 2025 Collection powerfully homages the house’s founder and legendary fashion figure, Yves Saint Laurent. From oversized glasses to sleek tailoring, the essence of Yves Saint Laurent was clearly visible throughout the show. The runway show was an ode to classic Saint Laurent showcases.
I can remember when Anthony Vaccarello made a striking debut at Saint Laurent with his first collection for the Fall of 2016. The collection was set against a gritty construction site backdrop framed by a towering neon YSL logo at the brand’s Left Bank headquarters on Rue de Bellechasse. Honestly, this collection has become iconic for Saint Laurent’s past decade of fashion history.
Fast forward to this year, Anthony Vaccarello returned to that iconic setting, but with a twist. Instead of opting for the raw, industrial aesthetic of a construction site, guests were welcomed into a bold, surreal show space (something that feels very nostalgic about Saint Laurent). A massive yellow oval, reminiscent of the picture frame, was suspended in the air, enclosing a cobalt blue runway. The show started with a men’s collection, which emphasized heavily on strength and control of perfectly tailored silhouettes in a restrained palette of beige, black, and plum. Each design featured bold elements such as sunglasses, wide ties, jewel-encrusted shoes, and gold bracelets.
As the show progressed, Vaccarello made a seamless transition to a womenswear collection. Models came down the runway in narrow miniskirts in electric hues like fuchsia and kingfisher blue, seamlessly blending luxury and modernity. Vaccarello also revisited his earlier collection by incorporating pajamas as an alternative to formal suiting. This time, he presented damask tunics paired with wide-legged trousers, a nod to Loulou de la Falaise, one of Saint Laurent’s muses.
Stay tuned with ‘The Stitch Studios’ for more updates on Paris Fashion Week 2024. As a premier fashion magazine, we aim to provide comprehensive styling guides and fashion reviews.
