Last Week, Stars Went Big on Frills and Fantasy

Femininity should never be prescriptive. The notion continues to evolve, and each season the European collections register those changes through thought-provoking fashion and lively front rows. Last week, as designers revealed their latest creations, their audiences issued a statement on what it means to be a well-dressed woman in 2020.

The current hot take involves modern romanticism; think frills, metallics, and midi-lengths a plenty. At Loewe, Gwendoline Christie embodied the mood in a cream silk cape with a decorative ruff and draped silhouette. Refined yet playful, it suited the statuesque Game of Thrones star perfectly. At Off-White, supermodel turned stateswoman Carla Bruni continued the trend in an emerald green ruffled dress by Virgil Abloh covered with tonal polka dots. Even the typically understated Audrey Tatou traded her Parisian staples for a sharp shouldered Balmain blazer and shirt dress edged with Edwardian flounces.

The vibe carried over onto the red carpet this week with sophisticated florals and reflective textures coming to the fore. At the Berlinale premiere of her new drama series, Stateless, Cate Blanchett toughened up Dries Van Noten’s eclectic blooms, layering a sequined bolero over her strapless gown. Equally compelling were Laura Harrier’s Paco Rabanne mixed prints at the screening for Ryan Murphy’s latest Netflix project, Hollywood. An energetic mix of scallops, flowers, and diamond patterns, Harrier’s suit projected executive realness without a hint of business casual.

Amid all the big prints and bold frills, a comparatively streamlined outfit proved the week’s biggest surprise. Versailles star Elisa Lasowski turned heads at the César Awards in Paris with a glittering gold lamé dress by JW Anderson. Embellished with crystals and a peekaboo cutout at the hip, the look was the opposite of a big-ticket awards season gown. Still, its elegance and youthful verve proved irresistible nonetheless.