This year’s fall and winter Paris Fashion Week (PFW) showcased fashion-forward pieces of fashion trends including catsuits, mini flare dresses and statement tights. Since 1973, PFW has served as a tool for brands to showcase their future collections to potential buyers to feel out their potential purchases. 

The event has become a social phenomenon. Social media sites like TikTok, Instagram and Twitter have made it easy to display celebrity and catwalk fashion.

With showcases from brands including Valentino, Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton, viewers found it a difficult task to determine favorites. Gina Roseman, a third-year creative writing major, was impressed by the work of Schiaparelli worn by Kylie Jenner.

“They put one of the biggest influencers of our time in one of their dresses that was previewed in the show to get people to talk about it,” Roseman said. “I think this whole [PWF] was giving very much Hunger Games.”

Another look that stole the show came from Doja Cat. Bedazzled from head-to-toe in red Swarovski crystals, she was a bright light attracting attention everywhere she went. Claire Needs, a fourth-year communication and media major, loved all of Doja’s looks, not just the Schiaparelli one.

“Her style is so multidimensional, I like her elevation of goth looks, from edgy smudged eye makeup to a, for lack of better word, devil costume at Schiaparelli,” Needs wrote to the Spectator. 

Some other stand-out looks were Anne Hathaway’s full-body cheetah look, Timothee Chalamet’s suit for the Jean Paul Gualtier show, all the White Lotus women’s looks for Valentino and Jenna Ortega’s dashing black, backless dress.

While classic looks are sure to satisfy, PFW is also known for debuting avant-garde designs and designers. Michael Elizabeth, a fourth-year graphic design major with a degree in photography, loved Mui Mui’s showcase. 

“I loved the beige, warm nude and black color palette. They again approached business–adjacent style with grace and gorgeous patterning,” Elizabeth wrote to The Spectator. 

Needs, on the other hand, was impressed by Iris Van Herpen’s showcase because of the use of digital formats that made her six looks more intricate and easy to view. 

“I think digital formats for couture are so important for viewers at home to be able to see the details that Couture Week was made to showcase (it’s also so much more sustainable, especially only doing six looks),” Needs wrote. 

Some other widely enjoyed showcases were Victor and Rolfe’s unique play on femininity, Miss Sohee, Rahul Mishra and more. Fashion is special because of its universality. Seattle is known to be host to fashion-forward folks. Roseman has amped up their style since moving to the Emerald City.

“You see these people who are dressing really cool and gay and feel like you have to fit in,” Roseman said. 

Despite social pressures to fit in with certain fashion trends, experimenting with styles can illustrate personality and interests. Oftentimes it’s exciting, refreshing and vital to show expression through an outfit. Elizabeth finds that their busy schedule only allows for me-time while getting dressed in the morning. 

“Fashion brings joy, and every time I experiment, I feel like I’m in my element,” Elizabeth wrote. 

Fashion, like many forms of art, has the unique ability to be tailored to each individual, creating vast and diverse styles. Needs thinks that everyone has their own flair, and it can be empowering to find out what feels best to wear.

“I feel like I’m always developing new aspects of my personal style by experimenting with styling,” Needs wrote.  

Beyond the fashion, bystanders pay attention to how  it’s presented. Needs expressed discontent with mishaps including the wrong shoe sizes for models. 

“It’s insane that major houses like Valentino still struggle with this,” Needs wrote. ”It’s embarrassing for the models and the brands. They can easily do better.”

Along with better sizing of runway materials for models, Roseman expressed their desire for inclusivity when it comes to body types—something the fashion industry has been historically reluctant to correct. 

“[The fashion industry] is still far behind on what actual people look like,” Roseman said. “They’re showing different types of people but not different body types.” 

Fashion is another form of art, but can be more accessible and easy to pick up than other mediums. With all the varying colors, patterns and materials. The possibilities to experiment with outfits are endless; one piece of clothing can be styled in so many different ways. Clothes are at anyone’s disposal, and discovering personal style is an easy way to realize one’s aesthetic identity in their daily lives.