European shows are often the creative hub of fashion month, so it’s no surprise that we were able to spot a few unorthodox trends that ran through the more adventurous collections. Here we present some of the craziest trends from the Milan and Paris fashion weeks.
Kevin Tachman for The Daily Beast
Psoriasis got you down? Seeking to hide your latest acne flare-up? Two designers have got you covered with these face-masking turtlenecks—the perfect item to break out when you break out. A.F. Vandevorst accompanied his version with an equally concealing fedora, and Maison Martin Margiela’s interpretation covers everything below the nose—providing plenty to hide behind when your day is off to a rough start.
Left to Right: Maison Martin Margiela, A.F. Vandevorst
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Victorian mourning dresses are a constant source of inspiration for designers who admire their delicate finery. But this season, they've been amped up with an eye toward indecency—ladies and gentlemen: see-through funeral clothes. While interpretations from Sonia Rykiel and Isabel Marant would cause upheaval at any wake, Dolce & Gabbana’s transparent tiers would create an irreparable family rift. If you’re not that fond of family ties to begin with, go ahead—who knows, things may take a Downton Abbey spin with a cute long-lost fifth cousin waiting for you in the wings.
Left to Right: Dolce & Gabbana, Isabel Marant, Sonia Rykiel
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Fall designers have translated this children's contraption’s prismed effect on the runways—creating a colorful and geometric look. At Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld was inspired by naturally occurring crystals and stalagmites—superimposing their light-deflecting properties onto a series of coats and dresses with multicolored metallic shapes. And designer Jean-Charles de Castelbajac—the man responsible for Lady Gaga’s Kermit dress—may have pared things down for fall, but he still created a kaleidoscopic dress that’s not for the faint of heart.
Left to Right: Jean-Charles de Castelbajac, Chanel
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The trend for rosy tiers is a bit difficult to decode—is it a Pokémon aftereffect thag arrived ten years too late, or a Molly Ringwald adaptation gone awry? Regardless of their common inspiration, three collections highlighted the color’s confectionary aptitude. Stuart Vevers created furry layers for Loewe, and Sarah Burton utilized ruffles in her collection for Alexander McQueen. At Comme des Garçons, Rei Kawakubo included this pink look in a collection that created a two-dimensional effect when worn in the round.
Left to Right: Alexander McQueen, Loewe, Comme des Garçons
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Lingerie created for the street is nothing new, and in its defense, negligees are actually rather practical when the weather inches above eighty degrees. Though for fall, designers have unapologetically brought back the nighty for a season when temperatures hardly hover above forty -- it’s either frostbite fashion, or a futuristic uniform intended for global warming’s next-millennial affects. Raf Simons created a color-blocked version for his final collection at Jil Sander, and Peter Copping’s was dark and stormy at Nina Ricci. At Givenchy, a procession of nightgowns came down the runway, each trimmed in lace with metallic embellishments.
Left to Right: Jil Sander, Nina Ricci, Givenchy
Logos haven’t gotten great attention as of late—they’ve been deemed out of style, been admonished from the runways, and in the absence of fashionable approval they’re still being worn by no less than three to four Kardashians at a time. Well, Kim and Kourtney can take solace in the fact that logos have made their return, though with more artistic panache than in past outings. Jean Paul Gaultier tagged his dresses in namesake graffiti, while Versace deconstructed their logo and smattered their dresses in its assorted lettering. Humberto Leon and Carol Lim embroidered sweaters with the Kenzo name, placed in the mouth of a lion.
Left to Right: Versace, Jean Paul Gaultier, Kenzo
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Three French labels took the Top Gun approach to Air Force-ready jumpsuits. Fear of flying or not, these looks are grounded in style—Ricardo Tisci created a batwing leather version for Givenchy, why Hakaan Yildirim conjoined tapered trousers with a leather bomber jacket for his namesake label. Barbara Bui brought her signature feminine approach to the trend, embellishing her jumpsuit with brushed metal buttons and a fur collar.
Left to Right: Givenchy, Barbara Bui, Hakaan
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These looks have arrived just in time for your town’s Springtime Ren fair—(hopefully) providing costuming inspiration that extends beyond your typical homemade Elizabethan finery. Both Dolce & Gabbana and Carven created screen prints bearing Renaissance art, while Versace took a darker turn with a jeweled parochial print.
Left to Right: Dolce & Gabanna, Carven, Versace
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