The Best Looks From Paris Fashion Week Fall 2016

Miuccia Prada has a tendency to deliver collections that verge on the idea of fashionably ugly, both for her main line Prada and it's sister, Miu Miu. This season however, the lineup was decidedly prettier—more glamorous, even—and introduced denim, a first for Mrs. Prada.

Each look was full of plenty of embellishments, including pearls, gems, name patches, and fur, with the appearance of a hand constructed look pulled together from a dressing up box.

However hand crafted they may seem, there was also plenty of elegant takeaways from the show. Fur stoles and strapless black dresses being just a few.

The notion of dress up also extended to print and fabrication. Oversize men's shirts in blue stripes looked like nightdresses, and a big fur coat could be a grandmother's hand-me-down.

Mrs. Prada also loves a bold print (another of Miu Miu's signatures), and the plethora of coats that closed the show are certain to fly off shelves.

- Tara Lamont-Djite

It was a rain soaked day in Paris, but once one got past the wet walk towards the imposing, futuristic Fondation Louis Vuitton, the outside was forgotten and you were transported into Nicholas Ghesquiere's Vuitton. A place with a glowing blue set, complete with icy, broken mirrors and concrete sculptures. Sitting front row were the most famous faces found all week—Catherine Deneuve, Alicia Vikander, Jennifer Connolly, Selena Gomez, Jaden Smith, Zendaya and Léa Seydoux. And then a collection of cool, sporty, sculptural clothes, finished with heeled, lug sole boots began their march. The trench reigned on the runway this season, but Ghesquiere's came cinched at the waist, and when paired with patent white cropped trousers, created a bold new shape while maintaining an inherent ease.

Athletic inspiration cropped up on knits, jackets and coats that melded nautical with sport in black, white and red—all while emphasizing a slim waist and exaggerated hip. In bijoux, the ears were adorned with mixed metal stick figures that swayed with each step.

Scarf prints and slip elements were another welcomed theme—and somehow it all melded easily together in one coherent collection. Those lug boots got different color laces, that came in black, silver and white—lest one is ready to start acquiring. In bags, there were ladylike top handles, leopard print bags, weekenders, giant logo trunks—in other words, no shortage of options for the LV devotee.

This girl is willing to show off her body in a pair of sleek, shiny red pants—but it's all very strong meets sexy— she's owning these looks and most likely, the room.

The finale looks were dresses with trompe l'oeil paillettes, either in simple black and white or kaleidoscope colors—all chic, easy and impossibly cool.

Kenzo has always veered on the experimental side, and this season designers Humberto Leon and Carol Lim continued their 'try everything once' theorem. The pair took inspiration from the Victorian era—evidenced through smock dresses and high necks—but included plenty of prints.

While Victoriana played a part, Lim and Leon's take on the decade seemed to be Victoriana via time travel. Their girl put on a high necked blouse and travelled in hyper color to video game arcades and back again, mussing up her hair along the way.

This was a collection that hinted at the fanciful, and encouraged wearers to try something a little different. As the show notes suggested, " "She tackles every adventure with an open mind and with respect for where she has previously tread."

Bold silhouettes also appeared, particularly through structured shoulders and oversized sleeves.

The pair also seemed to have been infected by the Vetements floral bug. Bold, graphic prints appeared on many of the looks and, when they weren't, they were paired with tiger-stripes or plaid.

- Tara Lamont-Djite

Valentino is known—and loved—for its frothy-as-air, ethereal, romantic dresses. So it came as a surprise that the show this morning opened with a parade of all-black looks paired with combat boots. Some looks were heavily layered, with shirts and (perhaps a first?), trousers, and wide-strap bags worn across the body.

The show moved on into lighter territory, with black opening up into nude, tribal-printed dresses and skirts. There was a strong ballet influence throughout the show, with nude flats and lace-up heels, and sparkly stockings.

Designers Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pierpaolo Piccioli took a risk this season, layering ribbed turtlenecks under spaghetti-strap dresses, pairing a green parka coat with a sequin-bedecked dress, and including plenty of black. Consider this the wardrobe of a ballerina—from show to off-duty looks worn back to her apartment, where city living requires tough boots but an appreciation for all things delicate and glittering.

While the show included plenty of Valentino's signature dresses, they expanded upon their go-to lace, playing with jersey fabrications and introducing more layered pieces. Coats and fur elements made appearances, as did a metallic, pleated skirt and dress.

An ode to earth and sky seemed to permeate the collection, with tribal prints appearing on earth toned fabrics amongst furs. Stars also made an appearance on ethereal, whimsical, tulle dresses that could as easily appear on stage.

- Tara Lamont-Djite