112 Shows. 8 Days. One Paris Fashion Week.

Paris Fashion Week: the mother of all fashion weeks. The city of cities (well actually the city of love) - but when it comes to fashion, no one does it better. If you can make it to Paris Fashion Week you can make it anywhere. 

There’s a reason most people romanticise Paris, and an even bigger reason why so many of the world’s leading fashion houses were born here. Chanel, Céline, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, Givenchy, Chloé, Hermès, Mugler, Jacquemus, Coperni, Ami, Louis Vuitton — need I go on?

And alongside the native Parisian houses, I’m so excited to see a whole wave of international talent debuting collections this season. Such as Balenciaga (newly taken over by Pierpaolo Piccioli), as well as newly appointed Creative Directors at Chanel, Loewe, Mugler, Maison Margiela, Jean Paul Gaultier, and, the show I’m personally dying to see — Dior by Jonathan Anderson!!! 

We just got a little sneak peak into Anderson’s first take at Dior. Posting on his personal instagram a delicate woven silk masterpiece that set the tone for what’s to come - that left me actually speechless. 

There are a ridiculous amount of creative takeovers this season, from exciting emerging designers to icons who’ve carried the fashion industry on their backs for years.

The Schedule

PFW officially kicks off later today, running over a historic eight-day period from 29th September - 6th October. It's without a doubt my most anticipated week of the year. With over 76 listed shows on the official schedule and 36 separate presentations. Making a grand total of 112 fashion events over a limited 8 days. It’s going to be packed, and I’ll be reporting all the best bits (and the worst)! Fingers crossed I’m impressed…

I’ve made a personalised, colour-coded PDF of the full schedule with my recommendations on what to prioritise during this chaotic week:

And if you want the plain version, here is the original pdf: Paris Fashion Week Schedule.

Without further ado lets get into Mimi’s most anticipated shows of the season. This week is going to fuel fashion lovers’ mouths and more importantly minds for the next six months. Whether we realise it or not, the decisions made on these runways will impact everything: From the colours, patterns, textures, layers, brands, designs, and silhouettes we gravitate towards. To the techniques, price points, and even what ends up on the high street.

It always makes me think about ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ scene where Miranda articulates to Andy how her outdated blue knit jumper was handpicked by, “the people in this room”. Because it is 100% true! 

Can’t‑Miss Shows & Debuting Creative Director shifts

Multiple creative rebounds await at Paris Fashion Week, much more than any of the other three cities. With the highest stake transitions that could reshape the fashion landscape. Each one promising renewed energy and hundreds of headlines. I could not be more excited about the shows below!!! 

I’ve merged “Can’t-Miss Shows” with “Debuts” because the overlap is insane. Every debut is a can’t-miss. The below shows are coming from the most established fashion houses, those that are guaranteed to dominate headlines and make jaws drop worldwide:

September 29th:

• Saint Laurent - September 29th @8pm - Opening the week, setting a glamorous tone for the season and hopefully setting the scene for the remaining 8 days of shows…

September 30th:

• Louis Vuitton - September 30th @12pm - A rare lunchtime runway at the Louvre, the dreamiest location ever (one of my favourite places in the world) bringing heritage luxury into a bold new moment. 

October 1st:

• Dior (Jonathan Anderson) - October 1st @2:30pm - Jonathan Anderson’s first women’s collection for Dior, following the red carpet debut from Venice film festival with a sneak peak into Anderson's take on Dior with the singular blue dress taking over 100 hours to finish. I’m excited to see his entire collection, especially following his men's debut. Expect innovation and star power. Dresses so meticulously detailed we are left in awe. He is one of the only designers I would have complete faith in to redefine Dior’s modern legacy.

October 2nd:

• The Row - October 2nd @10am - Minimalism in its most luxurious form. Expect timeless silhouettes, ultra-refined tailoring, and a quiet confidence that speaks louder than any logo, not always the boldest but The Row has a clear vision and will provide a visual cleanse amid fashion week chaos.

• Mugler (Miguel Castro Freitas) -  October 2nd @12pm - Reinvention for the brand known for theatricality. With the upcoming creative switch for the house I am excited to see if they bring bold newness or something a bit meh.

• Schiaparelli - October 2nd @7pm -  September’s most opulent spectacle, Daniel Roseberry’s couture-informed RTW collections continue to turn heads with gold-dripped surrealism and sculptural silhouettes. Expect drama, grandeur, and serious front-row heat, usually pulling in an impressive spectacle of celebrities and fashion icons.

• Isabel Marant - October 2nd @8:30pm - A Parisian staple. The queen of boho-chic is sure to deliver a collection packed with fringe, soft tailoring, and effortless insouciance -  a lesson in how to dress like every stylish French girl you follow. One of my favourite designers ever. I am super excited to see what Marant has for us this season.

October 3rd:

• Loewe (Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez) - October 3rd @11:30am - Their signature polish will steer the brand into new territory. There is so much anticipation for this duo taking over Loewe, especially after such a powerful run from JW Anderson. If you’ve read our blog post - “Here comes Super September” you will know the duo claim they are trying to channel signature Loewe, but in their own style. I’m ecstatic to see this show!

October 4th:

• Maison Margiela (Glenn Martens) - October 4th @12pm - Maison Margiela is currently undergoing a highly anticipated creative transition, following the departure of John Galliano. A seismic shift for the house known for its avant-garde codes and theatrical storytelling, with the fashion world now watching closely to see how Martens is going to reinterpret its deconstructive legacy.

• Balenciaga (Pierpaolo Piccioli) - October 4th @8pm - Pierpaolo Piccioli’s inaugural creative vision for the brand, whatever he has up his sleeve is set to be a seismic shift in the house’s identity. Marking a bold reimagination for the brand.

October 5th:

• Jean Paul Gaultier (Duran Lantink) - October 5th @4:30pm - Return to ready-to-wear with his debut on October 5 - cultural and creative expectations are sky-high.

• Celine - October 5th @12pm - A headline-stealing return expected from Hedi Slimane, who brings razor-sharp tailoring, cinematic showmanship, and that unmistakable blend of youth culture and French polish. Always a fashion week favorite for a reason.

• Chloé (Chemena Kamali) - October 5th @7pm  -  One of the most anticipated debuts of the season. Chemena Kamali, newly appointed Creative Director, takes her first bow at the house - will she revive the romantic, free-spirited codes of Chloé or reinvent them entirely?

October 6th:

• Coperni - October 6th @12pm -  This tech-savvy label keeps redefining the future of fashion. After last season’s spray-on dress moment, expectations are sky-high for another show built for virality. Clean lines, clever design, and a Gen Z cult following.

• Miu Miu - October 6th @2pm - The ultimate cool-girl label returns with Miuccia Prada’s trend-setting vision. Always a runway to watch, with micro-minis, and looks that go from catwalk to editorial in a blink.

• Chanel (Matthieu Blazy) - October 6th @8pm - Eyeing a refreshed vision for the storied house. Matthieu Blazy’s much-anticipated debut for Chanel poses as a pivotal moment for the house’s future, will he be able to channel signature Chanel? Will he butcher it? Fingers crossed for him. One of the closing shows on the penultimate day of PFW.

Emerging Designers

Rising names in Paris, while not all newcomers to the industry, these designers are beginning to carve out their space on the Paris stage this season. I’ve spotlighted just a few below who caught my attention, as the main focus of PFW naturally leans towards the industry’s most established powerhouses: 

• Weinsanto - September 29th @12:30pm - Victor Weinsanto blends theatrical couture and performance - one to catch very early in the week (In fact it is the opening show on 29th September!)

• Ganni - September 30th @10am - Breaking its off-calendar habit to officially join the PFW lineup in a new presentation format. A new vibe for Ganni, debuting at PFW this year.

• Ottolinger - October 5th @5:30pm - Berlin’s powerhouse label meets Paris with deconstructed silhouettes and technical edge.

• Meryll Rogge - October 7th @6pm - Closing the week as another ANDAM-backed name to watch.

Other Shows I’m Watching Closely

There are of course so many more designers I would love to put in this list, but PFW is so ridiculously packed with talent, even more so than previous years. I’ve had to minimise a bit, however you can see my full list of recommendations above in my personalised pdf version of the schedule. 

Other shows i am excited to see (just not at the top of my list) are: Alaia, Dries Van Noten, Courrèges, Stella McCartney, Rick Owens, Acne Studios, Tom Ford, Balmain, Rabanne, Issey Miyake, Nina Ricci, Givenchy, Victoria Beckham, Hermès, Vivienne Westwood, Elie Saab, Comme des Garçons, McQueen, Paloma Wool, Valentino, Zimmermann, and Thom Browne. 

And even then there are still about 50 shows I haven't named! Paris is that stacked.

There is so much to see and so much to report. I will be doing my absolute best to report on only the best of the best and the worst of the worst (hopefully not too many in this pile).

Keep up to date by reading every few days on the blog! You will not regret it. This is where my unfiltered opinionated self thrives. I cannot wait to report on literally THE MOST anticipated week of my year. Here’s to a full week of hopefully picking my jaw up off the floor. 

With love, mimi

xox