Paris Fashion Week: Highlights of the Fall 2012 Runways

While we’ve reported some of the best fall 2012 / winter 2013 shows that we’ve seen over the past few weeks with runway reviewsfashion show coverage & backstage beautywe wanted to take a moment to consider the highlights & top trends to inspire an easy-chic wardrobe update from Paris F/W 2012.

>> MORE: FASHION SHOWS AND RUNWAY REVIEWS

And though there were over a dozen remarkable outings from designers of all types, there were a select handful of outings that caught our eye and are sure to catch your’s too.

Balenciaga-

Balenciaga Fall 2012

After more than a decade at the helm of one of fashion’s most influential labels, mastermind Nicolas Ghesquiere was back with another winner of a collection with this time’s goal focusing on thoroughly modern updates to a working girl’s wardrobe with his sic-fi, 60’s mod-era trademarks juxtaposed with a nod to 80’s era French fashion and fashion illustrator Antonio Lopez.

Balenciaga Fall 2012
Balenciaga Fall 2012

Dries Van Noten-

Dries Van Noten Fall 2012

Spliced scarf inspired prints in fresh placements, abstracted uses of traditional Japanese prints & embroideries and hints of refined military regalia made for a strong outing from Dries Van Noten that had a stately, yet cool grace to it.

Here that heady, hybrid mix of influences elicited a rich, worldly elegance that while not groundbreaking, is certain to make a bulk of the collection find its way on to many a must-have list.

Dries Van Noten Fall 2012
Dries Van Noten Fall 2012

 Rochas-

Rochas Fall 2012

Bidding adieu to last season’s frothy, techno take on 50’s daytime couture for retro flare channeled from the 70’s made for another winner from the now unstoppable house of Rochas.

Hand-painted abstract prints brought to mind Miuccia Prada’s highly celebrated mid-90’s ‘Geek-Chic’ collection while a new linear silhouette made them look updated and truly covetable.

Rochas Fall 2012
Rochas Fall 2012

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Valentino-

Valentino Fall 2012

Modern and luxuriously feminine are the first thoughts that come to mind when surveying Valentino’s latest collection and while that does sound trite, there’s no denying the breath-taking desirability factor of Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli’s Fall 2012 range for the storied house.

Among the serene & demure line-up the designers added a restrained, vaguely folksy ethnic vibe that was counterbalanced by heavy-duty leather separates to create a play on romantic dressing while continuing to emphasize what a modern sophisticate might be on the lookout for.

Valentino Fall 2012
Valentino Fall 2012

Celine-

Celine Fall 2012

It’s clear that Phoebe Philo is sticking to the now revolutionary set of notes she started with once she took the reigns at the house of Celine and they were all back for her latest outing and made for yet another remarkable, completely wearable collection to boot.

Amongst her signature uses of color-blocking, leather separates and unexpected doses of fur shone a series of oversized coats that had a vaguely early 80’s silhouette along with shots of saturated pink fur and graphic uses of zippers here & there.

And while a majority of the collection had a routine familiarity to it, those men’s inspired toppers are sure to make the kind of copy-cat splash her wide-leg leather pants and hit bags created a few seasons ago.

Celine Fall 2012
Celine Fall 2012

Shop Balenciag, Celine, Dries Van Noten, Valentino & Rochas Online Now:

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