Couture on the Go: The Fall 2024 Collections Are Sporty, Anti-Gravity, and Nostalgic

Demna’s provocation had more to do with time. By closing his show with a piece of “ephemeral couture” made minutes before the show (and which “will come with three Balenciaga staffers for its assembly for the client who buys it,”) he suggested that the value of a couture creation is related to the hours of handwork that went into its making. (His layering technique also hewed close to the 2018 Vetements windows featuring piles of clothes.)

Plentitude took the form of pearls at Armani Privé, where they were applied with painstaking care, and often paired with pants that looked like molten metal. Mingling with the week’s more traditional prettiness were reminders that even the .001% can’t wholly avoid what is happening in the world. Protective shields were seen in various collections. There was a Cubist-like skewing of silhouettes at Viktor & Rolf and elsewhere as well as a feeling of clothes falling away from the body.

The dream of escape was present in the references to birds, which more broadly equate freedom with movement. This was built into clothes that torqued around the body or whose angular extensions seemed unsusceptible to gravity.

Gym Class

Tanks, track suits, leotards, and bathing suits swam upstream into couture collections.

Gymnasts, circa 1933.

Photo: ullstein bild Dtl./Getty Images

The leotard: Chanel, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Giambattista Valli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Elie Saab, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Aretha Franklin and choreographer Charlie Atkins, 1961.

Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Cyd Charisse, circa 1955.

Photo: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Zuhair Murad, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Rahul Mishra, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

The swimsuit: Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

The swimsuit: Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

The track suit: Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

The track suit: Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

The track suit: Chanel, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

What Lies Beneath

Designers move beyond naked dressing to the endoskeleton.

Zuhair Murad, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Roberty Wun, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Charles de Vilmorin, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Off-Kilter

Garments that reveal their making or seem to cling tenuously to the body are evidence of designer’s interest in deconstruction.

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Robert Wun, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Zuhair Murad, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Robert Wun, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Alexis Mabille, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Zuhair Murad, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Legs for Days

Pants looked easy, mobile, and modern.

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Chanel, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

A Paul Poiret lampshade design from 1923.

Photo: Roger Viollet/Getty Images

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Micro Management

The magic of couture is often made visible through beadwork and embroidery.

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

Ashi Studio, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Flight Patterns

Fashion can be a way to escape (by wing or foot, or private plane) to another place or time.

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Chanel, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Charles de Vilmorin, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Giambattista Valli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Iris van Herpen, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

A Lanvin dress on display at the 1938 World’s Fair.

Photo: Lipnitzki/Getty Images

Shield Gang

There is a protective aspect to some couture garments for fall.

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Viktor & Rolf, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Find Your Best Angle

The naked dress, seen from a sharp angle.

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Bodacious Side Eye

The Cubists’ altered vision seems to have influenced designers.

Viktor & Rolf, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Ashi Studio, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

Rahul Mishra, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Juan Gris, Untitled.

Photo: Barney Burstein/Getty Images

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Rahul Mishra, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Only Happy When It Rains…

…rains diamonds and rubies and pearls, that is.

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Elie Saab, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Alexis Mabille, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Ashi Studio, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Ghoul Oriented

Finally, there’s room for emo clients, and Evanescence fans, at couture.

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Charles de Vilmorin, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Zuhair Murad, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Charles de Vilmorin, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Avoir du…chat?

Avor du chien is a french expression meaning to possess chic, but this season’s focus was on cats.

Alexis Mabille, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Armani Privé, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Transformations

This season included witty takes on the possibilities fashion offers for change.

Shoe hat bu Elsa Schiaparelli, 1937.

Photo: Ullstein bild via Getty Images

Schiaparelli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Poster for the French National Railroads by Salvador Dali, 1969.

Photo: Potter and Potter Auctions/Gado/Getty Images

Balenciaga, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Balenciaga

Robert Wun, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Fleet of Foot

They’re built for speed and easy on the eyes.

Giambattista Valli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: C. Scarpato – A. Viero / Gorunway.com

Christian Dior, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Armando Grillo / Gorunway.com

Big-Impact Bridal

For your special day, a dress that speaks volumes.

Charles de Vilmorin, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Chanel, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Isidore Montag / Gorunway.com

Thom Browne, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Umberto Fratini / Gorunway.com

Giambattista Valli, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Daniele Oberrauch / Gorunway.com

Julie se Libran, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Rahul Mishra, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Elie Saab, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Filippo Fior / Gorunway.com

Nicolas di Felice for Jean Paul Gaultier, fall 2024 couture

Photo: Courtesy of Jean Paul Gaultier

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