After hundreds of fashion shows this season, you’d think we’d seen it all. But then Paris came along with more than one surprise up its sleeve. Take Rick Owens, for instance. For his spring show, the edgy California-bred designer strapped local gymnasts onto runway models every which way to Sunday. Instantly, a social media firestorm erupted. The display was met with “LOLs” and catchphrases like “human backpack.” But Owens had a different concept in mind. As his show notes expressed, the female bondage was about “nourishment, sisterhood/motherhood and regeneration; women raising women, women becoming women and women supporting other women.” It’s easily become the most talked about show of the season.
SS16 CYCLOPS WOMENS #RICKOWENS #RICKOWENSONLINE #RICKOWENSSS16
A photo posted by RICK OWENS ONLINE (@rickowensonline) on
Soon after, Christian Dior designer Raf Simons made headlines of his own by constructing a 59-foot floral mountain for his runway show, which took place in the center of the Louvre’s Cour Carrée. That little undertaking took 15 semitrucks and 300,000 blue and purple delphiniums. It also managed to beat out Chanel’s majestic airport terminal for best backdrop — and that’s no easy feat.
Relive the finale of yesterday’s Spring-Summer 2016 ready-to-wear fashion show. #PFW #Diorshow
A video posted by Dior Official (@dior) on
Unfortunately, not all of the surprises were good ones. Valentino designers Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli found themselves in the hot seat after debuting a collection inspired by tribal Africa. But that in and of itself wasn’t exactly the issue. What fell flat was the casting of predominantly white models…wearing cornrows.
A photo posted by Valentino (@maisonvalentino) on
To learn more about the diversity breakdown of the Spring 2016 season, check back in next week for our full Fashion Month report. In the meantime, catch up on all the best looks of Paris Fashion Week Spring 2016 in the gallery above.
Images: Imaxtree
