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Elegance in the 80s and 90s: A Comparative Analysis with Modern Fashion

Elegance in the 80s and 90s: A Comparative Analysis with Modern Fashion

Fashion is a reflection of the cultural and social context of each era. When observing the 80s and 90s, it’s clear that the elegance of those decades presents a distinctive style that contrasts with today’s trends.

Fashion in the 80s

The fashion of the 80s was characterized by an exuberant and eye-catching style, dominated by bright colors and bold patterns. Shoulder pads became a symbol of power, especially in women’s fashion, with oversized blazers and jackets being essential pieces. Shiny materials, such as metallic fabrics and sequins, reflected a taste for glamour and ostentation. Large accessories, like big earrings and chunky necklaces, complemented the looks, while high-heeled footwear, especially stilettos, added an elegant touch.

Brooke Shields: 1980 / PH: D.R
80s Christy Turlington / GETTY IMAGES

Fashion in the 90s

The fashion of the 1990s leaned towards minimalism and simplicity. This aesthetic was marked by clean lines and neutral colors, promoted by designers like Calvin Klein. Denim became a staple, with high-waisted jeans paired with elegant blouses or blazers, blending casual and formal styles. The influence of pop culture, with models and icons like Kate Moss, helped popularize sophisticated yet accessible looks, making elegance feel more relatable to everyday life.

Spice Girls, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell /GETTY IMAGES
Linda Evangelista 90s outfit / GETTY IMAGES

Comparison with Modern Fashion

Unlike the 1980s and 1990s, where elegance was defined by structured silhouettes, vibrant colors, and eye-catching accessories, today’s trends lean towards casual and laid-back styles. Athleisure, which combines athletic wear with elegant pieces, has become popular, making sneakers and leggings acceptable for a variety of occasions that once required more formal attire.

90s Style vs Modern FASHION PH: GETTY IMAGES / IG:Kimkardashian

Instead of aiming to impress with intricate looks, many people now opt for a more minimalist approach, with basic pieces that reflect a more relaxed aesthetic. While this can result in a style that feels more accessible and authentic, it is often perceived as less elegant compared to the opulence and drama of past decades. Thus, current fashion reflects a change in priorities, where comfort and individuality have taken center stage over traditional elegance.

Valentino Spring-Summer 2025: Alessandro Michele’s Bold Debut

Valentino Spring-Summer 2025: Alessandro Michele’s Bold Debut

The Valentino Spring-Summer 2025 collection, presented at Paris Fashion Week, marked the highly anticipated debut of Alessandro Michele as the brand’s new creative director. Known for his maximalist approach, Michele blended his signature aesthetic with Valentino’s iconic codes, delivering a vibrant and modern interpretation of the house’s heritage. One of the key highlights was Michele’s reimagining of classic elements, particularly the strategic use of Valentino’s signature red, applied sparingly but with great impact, making every appearance of this color feel powerful and deliberate.

A Rich and Balanced Color Palette

The color palette was a standout feature of the collection, showcasing a rich variety of tones. Classic hues such as black, white, and beige provided a neutral foundation, allowing the iconic Valentino red to shine through in key pieces like dresses and accessories, amplifying moments of drama and boldness on the runway.

Beyond these foundational tones, Michele introduced softer colors like pastel shades and delicate tones of powder pink and aqua green, which infused the collection with a romantic and gentle feel. Subtle touches of gold and silver appeared in the form of accessories and embroidered details, adding an air of luxury and sophistication to the overall presentation.

Playful Silhouettes and Signature Patterns

Michele’s talent for mixing traditional and contemporary elements was evident in the silhouettes and patterns. A strong focus was placed on polka dots, which were incorporated in various forms across different garments, from gala dresses to tailored blazers and pantsuits, showing their versatility. The collection also featured several dramatic pieces designed for the red carpet, embracing a theatrical aesthetic that is quintessential to Valentino’s DNA.

Bold Accessories and Nostalgic Charm

Accessories played an integral role in Michele’s vision, bringing a sense of fun and extravagance to the collection. Standout accessories included lace stockings in Valentino red, paired with embellished heels and charming bracelets, offering a playful yet sophisticated twist. Michele balanced a nostalgic reference to vintage styles with a modern flair, blending the familiar with the innovative, a hallmark of his creative approach.

Overall, Michele’s first collection for Valentino was a masterful blend of tradition and modernity, seamlessly integrating his maximalist vision into the Valentino aesthetic. It heralded a new chapter for the brand, one that is both rooted in its heritage and open to bold, forward-thinking ideas.

Nina Ricci Spring/Summer 2025: A Tribute to Feminine Grace

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Nina Ricci Spring/Summer 2025: A Tribute to Feminine Grace

The Spring/Summer 2025 collection from Nina Ricci, helmed by Harris Reed, has garnered attention for its strong focus on fluid femininity and elegant design. This lineup not only highlights the beauty of the female form but also introduces modern touches that resonate with today’s fashion landscape.

Color Palette

The color scheme features gentle and romantic tones, including soft pastels and earthy shades that conjure a feeling of freshness and calm. This palette perfectly aligns with the collection’s seasonal theme, making the pieces well-suited for spring and summer wear.

Graceful Silhouettes

The garments, including dresses and blouses, are crafted to flow effortlessly, utilizing airy fabrics such as chiffon and silk. This commitment to fluidity enhances movement, embodying a sense of ease and sophistication perfect for the warmer months.

Intricate Embellishments

In addition, the collection is marked by intricate embellishments. Delicate embroidery and decorative details elevate the garments, showcasing Nina Ricci’s dedication to craftsmanship and quality. Each piece stands out not only for its beauty but also for its meticulous construction.

Voluminous Skirts

The voluminous skirts in Nina Ricci’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection have emerged as one of the standout features of the runway, symbolizing a celebration of femininity and elegance. These skirts, characterized by their wide structure and fluid draping, bring a romantic and airy quality to the garments. These skirts align with current trends that seek to reinterpret femininity in contemporary fashion. The combination of generous volumes and a romantic aesthetic makes these pieces versatile, suitable for both formal events and more casual occasions.

Accessories

Complementing the clothing, the accessories seamlessly enhance the collection, showcasing refined shoes and stylish handbags that reinforce the feminine and chic aesthetic characteristic of Nina Ricci. These pieces add a polished touch, rounding out the overall look presented on the runway.

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: Folklore and High Fashion under Seán McGirr

Alexander McQueen Spring/Summer 2025 Collection: Folklore and High Fashion under Seán McGirr

During Paris Fashion Week, stood out for its deeply emotional narrative inspired by the mythological figure of the banshee. This solitary, prophetic figure of doom served as the creative starting point for the brand’s new creative director, Seán McGirr, who introduced his vision for McQueen in a hauntingly beautiful and dramatic display, merging folklore with high fashion.

Daniele Oberrauch 

A Monochromatic Palette with Visceral Accents

The collection’s color palette was grounded in monochromatic tones of white, black, and gray, enhancing the somber and mysterious atmosphere that echoed the banshee’s myth. However, McGirr introduced an emotional contrast through accents of degraded blood-red in certain dresses, adding a visceral, haunting touch that disrupted the monochrome with a sense of impending doom.

Daniele Oberrauch 
Daniele Oberrauch 

Sculptural Garments and Twisted Pinning

Twisted pinning, a signature McQueen technique, featured prominently throughout the collection. The tailored, angular shoulders and form-fitting pieces evoked both anguish and power, core elements of the McQueen aesthetic. Ethereal, frayed chiffon fabrics were used in high-neck gowns and fragile, torn layers, mimicking the spectral presence of the banshee.

Daniele Oberrauch 

Key looks

Key looks included blouses with cast plaster details and jackets provocatively opened at the waist, revealing skin in a daring yet controlled manner. The collection closed with more dramatic, sculptural pieces, like a torso dress reminiscent of hand-sculpted clay, blending art and fashion for a powerful finale.

Daniele Oberrauch 

Accessories

Handcrafted details were equally essential, with avant-garde interpretations of McQueen’s nautical elements seen in striped sweaters adorned with pearls and gold chains. These elevated the accessories, bringing a sense of luxury and rebellious sophistication to the collection, staying true to the brand’s ethos.

Daniele Oberrauch 

The Future of McQueen under McGirr’s Vision

Seán McGirr’s collection demonstrated a respect for McQueen’s traditional codes while offering a fresh, contemporary perspective. By intertwining mythological references, sculptural tailoring, and intricate craftsmanship, McGirr signaled his intent to lead the brand into a bold future, where folklore meets high fashion in seamless harmony.

Schiaparelli SS25: The fusion of past and future, under the concept of “Future Vintage.”

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Schiaparelli SS25: The fusion of past and future, under the concept of “Future Vintage.”

The Spring/Summer 2025 collection from Schiaparelli, designed by Daniel Roseberry, marked a stunning evolution of the brand’s iconic surrealist heritage. As expected from one of fashion’s most avant-garde houses, the collection was an artistic spectacle, blending past and future seamlessly through bold designs, opulent textures, and cutting-edge techniques.

A Subdued but Striking Palette

The color palette was mostly neutral and sophisticated, with black, cream, and white forming the backbone of the collection. However, these were punctuated by vibrant accents in metallic tones and rich hues like emerald and gold, providing moments of unexpected brilliance amid the more restrained base colors.

Sculptural Silhouettes

Jackets with oversized, structured shoulders, and dresses with dramatic, three-dimensional elements dominated the runway, presenting a couture-like elegance. These sculptural silhouettes felt like a continuation of Schiaparelli’s tradition, taking familiar shapes and reinterpreting them with a fresh, modern twist.

Classic Pieces with a Twist

Roseberry didn’t just play with new forms but also revisited classic Schiaparelli designs, giving them modern updates. Timeless jackets and suits were reimagined with surrealist touches, such as built-in jewelry and surreal accessories integrated into the garments themselves. The result was a perfect harmony between the brand’s heritage and a contemporary, boundary-pushing vision.

Trompe-l’Å“il and Haute Couture Techniques

Some of the most captivating elements of the collection were its use of trompe-l’Å“il—optical illusions that created striking visual effects. One standout example was the metallic tunics, which appeared to be made from actual metal but were crafted from lighter fabrics that mimicked the look of armor.

A Celebration of Fashion and Art

Overall, the Spring/Summer 2025 collection was a celebration of Schiaparelli’s history as much as it was a look toward the future. Each piece felt carefully designed to transcend trends, embodying a timeless quality that could be passed down through generations, cementing the brand’s place at the intersection of fashion and art.

The world’s most expensive handbag

The world’s most expensive handbag

The world’s most expensive handbag was unveiled by Rabanne at Paris Fashion Week during the Spring/Summer 2025 show, marking a standout moment of the event.

Made of 18-karat Gold

18-karat solid gold bag / ©Rabanne

This bag, priced at nearly $280,000 (around €250,000), is crafted entirely from 18-karat solid gold. It is a modern reinterpretation of the brand’s iconic 1969 Nano Bag, inspired by Paco Rabanne’s signature metal disc designs, which were famously worn by French singer and actress Françoise Hardy.

18-karat solid gold bag at Rabanne SS25 PFW / ©Rabanne

Not only is the bag noteworthy for its material value, but it also carries historical significance. It pays homage to the world’s most expensive dress, created by Rabanne for Hardy in 1968, made of gold plates and diamonds. This new piece serves as a modern tribute to that legacy, reimagined under the futuristic and avant-garde direction of Julien Dossena​

The debut of this handbag became the highlight of the show, reaffirming Rabanne’s ability to blend fashion history with contemporary opulence, positioning the brand at the pinnacle of extreme luxury.

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Balmain Spring/Summer 2025: Sculptural Elegance Meets Modern Luxury

Balmain Spring/Summer 2025: Sculptural Elegance Meets Modern Luxury

The Spring/Summer 2025 collection by Balmain, designed by Olivier Rousteing, offered a bold yet elegant take on modern fashion. Known for his architectural approach to design, Rousteing delivered a series of sculptural silhouettes that captured the essence of haute couture while keeping in touch with the demands of contemporary style.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

A Subdued, Yet Striking Color Palette

Soft tones like ivory and beige dominated the runway, providing a foundation of sophistication and subtlety. These shades were punctuated by bold colors like emerald green and luxurious golds, adding moments of vibrancy and opulence. Additionally, metallic accents, particularly shimmering golds, elevated the luxury factor, while classic black and white elements grounded the collection in sleek elegance.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Innovative Sculptural Designs

At the core of the collection were bold, angular forms, especially seen in tailored pieces with broad shoulders and structured hips. These designs highlighted Rousteing’s focus on balancing elegance with a sense of drama. Signature details, like pearl embroidery and intricate beadwork, added an artisanal touch, showcasing the designer’s ability to blend haute couture elements with ready-to-wear practicality. Statement pieces like the torso-shaped dresses and face-embellished gowns became iconic representations of this collection’s artistic approach.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Makeup Dresses

Olivier Rousteing pushed boundaries by incorporating makeup into the very fabric of his designs. One of the most talked-about elements was the series of dresses that used makeup palettes as part of the garments themselves. These designs took “wearable beauty” to a literal level, blending fashion with the essence of makeup artistry. Rousteing integrated multi-tonal hues and textures inspired by mascara and other beauty products into his pieces, creating visually striking garments that mirrored the colors and techniques used in makeup application.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

A Vision of the Future, Rooted in the Past

Balmain’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection stands as a testament to Olivier Rousteing’s vision of blending classic couture elements with forward-thinking design. By focusing on sculptural forms, luxurious detailing, and a balanced color palette, the collection seamlessly weaves together the house’s heritage with a bold, modern edge. It’s a celebration of both craftsmanship and innovation, proving once again that Rousteing is a master at evolving the iconic Balmain aesthetic for the present day.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

The Accessories

The use of accessories, especially the introduction of the Anthem bag, stood out for its retro yet contemporary appeal. It was a symbol of how Balmain’s heritage blends effortlessly with modern tastes, reinforcing Rousteing’s ability to innovate while respecting the brand’s history.

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Yves Saint Laurent’s SS25 Collection: A Bold Celebration of Femininity and Artistic Legacy

Yves Saint Laurent’s SS25 Collection: A Bold Celebration of Femininity and Artistic Legacy

The Yves Saint Laurent Spring/Summer 2025 collection, designed by Anthony Vaccarello, achieves a remarkable balance between nostalgia and innovation, offering pieces that celebrate the strength and diversity of the contemporary woman.

Bella Hadid walking for Saint Laurent SS25

Color Palette

The collection is characterized by a rich palette that includes emerald greens, amber, and vibrant reds, along with blues inspired by Marrakech. These colors not only make a bold statement but also showcase Vaccarello’s mastery as a colorist.

Saint Laurent

Powerful Silhouettes

The collection highlights fluid suits and perfectly tailored jackets that balance masculinity and femininity. These pieces are designed to offer structure while emphasizing the female figure, conveying a message of control and strength.

Saint Laurent

Tribute to Influential Women

Each look in the collection is named after women who have made a significant impact in the history of Saint Laurent. This homage underscores the enduring relationship between the brand and the muses that have inspired its designs over the years.

Saint Laurent

Artistic Inspiration

Vaccarello incorporates vibrant skirts that evoke the colorful brushstrokes of the artists admired by Yves Saint Laurent, adding a touch of exuberance to the collection. This fusion of art and fashion reinforces the brand’s historical connection to the artistic world.

Saint Laurent

Accessories

The accessories from the collection beautifully enhance the collection’s bold and artistic spirit. Notable features include oversized statement jewelry, such as earrings and chunky necklaces that reflect vibrant colors and artistic themes. The footwear ranges from sleek stilettos to stylish ankle boots, each embellished uniquely to complement the powerful silhouettes of the garments. Handbags showcase distinct shapes and bold colors, emphasizing YSL’s signature craftsmanship with luxurious materials.

Saint Laurent

Dolce & Gabbana SS25: A tribute to Madonna and JPG

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Dolce & Gabbana SS25: A tribute to Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier

The Dolce & Gabbana Spring/Summer 2025 collection, presented at Milan Fashion Week, paid homage to Madonna, celebrating her influence on fashion and the long-standing relationship between the pop icon and the brand.

The show begins when Madonna arrives and she’s wearing an all-black lace veil
Photograph: EPA/MATTEO BAZZI

All the collection was a glamorous nod to Madonna’s signature styles from the 80s and 90s, with models donning blonde, permed wigs and black headbands reminiscent of Madonna’s Blond Ambition era

Color Palette

The runway was dominated by a color palette that included a notable use of black and white and some silver, red and pale pink tones.

Dolce & Gabbana SS25 collection: Photograph: Isidore Montag

The pieces

Dolce & Gabbana SS25 collection: Photograph: Isidore Montag

We found corsets, conical bras and pin-striped blazers, most in black

Each corset, while reminiscent of Gaultier’s original, was elevated with quintessential Dolce & Gabbana craftsmanship: delicate, intricate and undeniably Italian

Dolce & Gabbana SS25 collection: Photograph: Isidore Montag

The collection includes floral prints and glamorous evening dresses adorned with crystal fringe, evoking the sensual Italian style that Madonna has always had

Dolce & Gabbana SS25 collection: Photograph: Isidore Montag

Each look conveys what has long been the brand’s hallmark: sensuality, beauty and the celebration of a woman’s attitude and character

Taylor Swift Rocks Luxury Fashion in Gucci and Dior for a Stylish Date Night with Travis Kelce in NYC

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Taylor Swift Rocks Luxury Fashion in Gucci and Dior for a Stylish Date Night with Travis Kelce in NYC

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s recent date in New York City, where they were spotted on October 11, 2024, turned heads not just for their appearance but also for Swift’s impeccable outfit. She wore a striking Gucci lace corset, which she paired with a sleek black leather mini-skirt. To balance the edgy look, she layered it with a classic camel wool coat by Polo Ralph Lauren, adding a timeless element to her modern, chic ensemble.

GETTY IMAGES

However, the standout accessory was her Dior Saddle Bag, a luxury piece often favored by celebrities. This black leather bag, priced at around $4,400, added a sophisticated touch to her look. Complementing her outfit were bold Louis Vuitton platform boots, which brought an edgy contrast to the overall elegance. She completed the look with her signature red lip and a casual half-up, half-down hairstyle.

Travis Kelce, known for his daring fashion choices, complemented Swift’s style with a bold Jacquemus printed shirt featuring a horse and figure motif, showing his flair for high fashion alongside her classic-meets-edgy look.

The duo’s style received much attention for its blend of glamour, sophistication, and boldness, perfectly capturing the attention of the fashion world

GETTY IMAGES