It's like walking in a painting. An Op-Ed by Karen Binns

This season at Paris fashion weeks AW 19/20, collections defined honour in the working women.

With the recent passing of the the king himself, Karl Lagerfeld, 
I felt sadness and joy all at the same time.

Their was a quietness in the air, almost like a salute to the house of Chanel,
And it’s achievement to still stand tall amongst all of the new designers houses.

Chanel, for me, was at its best: giving us its most modern futurepast collections ever,
And totally one of its best edited. Tweed at it’s best; and sexy, loose looks.
Like Coco Chanel’s reason for designing, the women had somewhere to go… maybe on the train, in the street and running for the bus.

And talking of new, the genius of “The New Commercial “ Virgil Abloh’s OFF WHITE, 
Came thru like a bullet, presenting all of the silhouettes necessary to promote sales, like Bam, he hit us in the Face with all of the right proportions, that a girl from 16-60 can rock daily.
From oversize cool to the dope dress and trainer look.

Now for the classic diva brand shows, is was fire... Givenchy, woof! 
The models came down the catwalk like soldiers to a hardcore club best, 
With an air of masculinity into softness. 
As well as other brands this season, like SACAI, and Stella McCartney, it seems like the Street Life aesthetic Was on everyone’s mind when designing their collection.

Rick Owens’ show was quite powerful, with the lift of his glam rock platformed looks;
You felt the power of women was the New Beat.
And Louis Vuitton, let you have it with their Anne-Marie Beretta 80s update,
But in flat creeper tomboy footwear. It was super dope this season.

80s 80s , and more 80s across the shows. In, it was the flavour of this season.
Big volume shoulders and loose power silhouettes.
It felt like last seasons Marc Jacobs’ Show led the way.
Issey Miyake killed it by adding bright primary colour palettes to its 80s daytime Running The Street  look.

And of course, to end it with the love of a rose, the Valentino Show…
Always sublime, and his idea of the women that we all want to be.

Women who work for a living, and women who are loved… that was the look.
It’s like waking the streets, waking in a painting.