The Top 6 Shows and Runway Trends at Paris Couture Week FW22

Kicking off with Schiaparelli and closing with Fendi, Paris Couture Week has come to an end, with viral moments including Kim Kardashian's street style appearance with North West and model Kristen McMenamy's fall on the Jean Paul Gaultier runway.

We're looking back on the week and reflecting on some of our favorite shows. Demna tapped a star-studded cast for his second Balenciaga Couture show, with Kardashian, Dua Lipa, Nicole Kidman and more appearing on the runway. Jean Paul Gaultier worked with Balmain's Olivier Rousteing for his third "remixed" Couture collection, while John Galliano directed an on-stage film shooting for Maison Margiela.

Continue scrolling to see the top shows of Paris Couture Week Fall/Winter 2022.

Balenciaga

Demna showcased his second Couture collection for Balenciaga, after bringing the fashion house back on the Haute Couture Week calendar last year. In addition to masked models, the runway featured familiar faces, including Kim Kardashian, Dua Lipa and Nicole Kidman, as well as Bella Hadid, Christine Quinn and Naomi Campbell. Standouts from the collection included a wedding gown made with over 200 meters of tulle, 70,000 crystals, 80,000 silver leaves and 200,000 sequins, in addition to a range of unexpected collaborative accessories such as a Bang & Olufsen speaker bag.

Chanel

Virginie Viard revisited Chanel's archive for her latest Couture collection, bringing out a range of classic tweed suits, pleated dresses and more onto the runway. Pharrell Williams delivered a drum performance, while models strutted down the catwalk wearing cowboy boots with long skirts, referencing the designer's love for horseback riding. The runway was filled with colors with a palette of black, silver, beige, khaki, alongside pops of bright green and pink on tweed numbers, as well as tulle dresses.

Dior

Maria Grazia Chiuri took inspiration from Ukrainian artist Olesia Trogymenko for Dior's latest Couture collection. Using the Tree of Life as an overarching theme, the designer created an ephemeral range of Victorian gothic gowns, frocks and more with intricate details, include lace patchwork and 3D beaded embroidery.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Balmain's Olivier Rousteing was the third designer, following sacai's Chitose Abe and Y/Project's Glenn Martens, to take over Jean Paul Gaultier Couture. "This show is an open letter to Jean Paul, an open letter of love," Rousteing spoke of the collection, which saw a number of iconic models such as Kristen McMenamy and Sora Choi on the runway. With Kim Kardashian sitting front row with her daughter North West, Rousteing showcased garments combining his personal experiences with the current world, including everything from his love for Gaultier to the ongoing conversations around diversity and inclusivity in fashion.

Maison Margiela

John Galliano's latest presentation for Maison Margiela was the most Haute Couture it could ever be. The designer presented his collection in a format where models were acting and filming a movie on stage for 35 minutes. Titled "Cinema Inferno," the production took place in a theater at the Palais de Chaillot with the narrative written by Galliano himself.

Schiaparelli

With celebrities like Hunter Schafer and Emma Watson in attendance, Daniel Roseberry opened Couture Week with a collection of garments inspired by '80s nostalgia, while celebrating the legacy of Elsa Schiaparelli. Designs paid homage to the late designer's inspirations, with Surrealist details taking over. Flowers erupted from corsets and dresses, accompanied by hats with extra-wide brims.