Paris Fashion Week: Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Balenciaga, Chanel and more

The last two days of Paris Fashion Week are always crammed with back-to-back shows from big brands such as Chanel and Louis Vuitton, and smaller ones like Sacai and Shiatzy Chen – two Asian labels that have been showing in Paris for years. This year, the well-edited Sacai show was a chic take on the preppy-with-a-twist aesthetic that is a signature of the label. Meanwhile, Shiatzy Chen’s collection, named Stroke of Brilliance, was a homage to Chinese ink painting and the power of the brushstroke in Chinese art.

Stella McCartney kicked things off on a chilly Monday morning with a star-studded front row that included Natalie Portman, Rob Lowe and Greta Gerwig.

The British designer meant business. The models looked ready to take on the world – or just a busy day at work – in wide-shoulder suits and trench coats paired with roomy bags and a copy of The Stella Times “newspaper”.

McCartney also knows how to do sexy, revealing just enough flesh, always hinting rather than overexposing. Draped and cut-out gowns were great examples of that.

The invitation to the Balenciaga show came with a golden wedding band engraved with each guest’s name. Demna, the label’s creative director, meant it as a way to profess his love for fashion and to celebrate his almost 10-year marriage with the house.