Lessons in Chic: 35 Couture Fashion Week Street Style Looks
Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris is the time where the finest frippery comes out to play on the streets. It's one big, gorgeous excuse for the FROW to really play dress-up—a few days where ballgowns are commonplace on the avenues and rues and the latest in-store drops are already established and put into action (pre-fall has just landed, so expect plenty of that).
To celebrate these glamorous moments, we're rounding up the best of the street style images and analysing each outfit's credentials for your benefit—from the way you can rethink a sequin skirt (thanks, Mirolsava Duma!) to the new handbags everyone's after (blame Miu Miu). You don't have to own couture to up the fashion ante. Go through the gallery to get some super-chic style tips from the Couture Fashion Week set.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty
Style Notes: Flasher-macs aren't all bad, you know. This belted sky-blue number looks rather sophisticated on Candela Novembre when worn with Chanel sling-backs.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty
Style Notes: Pop on a panama hat and bring your city look a little holiday-ready sunshine.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty
Style Notes: Yet further proof that dark floral dresses are a sound investment—you can wear them layered and with ankle boots whenever the weather takes a bad turn.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty
Style Notes: Offset the girlishness of a ruffled off-the-shoulder top with a bad-ass bomber jacket and black tailored trousers. Applause for fashion buyer Tiffany Hsu, please.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty
Style Notes: Carine Roitfeld loves a kinky combination, and her patent skirt suit, bondage belt, fishnet tights and lace-up shoes certainly fulfills. A demure knit balances the look out.
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti
Style Notes: Lucky Elena Perminova has scooped up Miu Miu's bag of the moment, the Dahlia Shoulder Bag (£1320).
Photo:
Vanni Bassetti/Getty Images
Style Notes: This is all about dramatic proportions: BIG dress, teeny weeny bag.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: Miroslava Duma's party skirt meets business attire with a checked blazer.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: Wearing her own line, Gilda Ambrosio has added a netted layer underneath the Attico Envers Satin and Velvet Geometric Dress (£1036) and made it more daytime-appropriate.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: These billowing chiffon dresses are having quite a moment, but it's the unusual baby blue and lipstick red combination here that really catches the eye.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: Talking of baby blue, Chiara Ferragni really goes for the hue in this Versace get-up.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: Avoid looking too matchy-matchy on a strict colour palette by injecting plenty of texture.
Photo:
Timur Emek
Style Notes: Pajama-dressing is going nowhere—so inject a little modernity via a choker necklace or two.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: It's not just off-duty-models who love biker jackets, denim miniskirts and sneakers—but they are very good at wearing them together.
Photo:
Edward Bethelot/Getty
Style Notes: Stella Maxwell's Gucci rucksack is the perfect pick-me-up for an all-black outfit.
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Style Notes: What's new pussycat? Candela Novembre has definitely clocked the trend for kitty motifs and prints with her Stella McCartney skirt.
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: The '70s safari jacket makes a softer comeback in Elena Perminova's muted ensemble. P.S. That Dior backpack is totally cute.
Photo:
Timur Emek/Getty
Style Notes: In true Olivia Palermo style, this is a perfect print-clash. The Schiaparelli jacket, Zara top and Chelsea28 trousers work in harmony thanks to a black-and-white base palette.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Ulyana Sergeenko's mannish tailoring looks dramatic when pair with the wide-brimmed hat, red lipstick and drop earrings.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Chiara Ferragni's Gucci loafers and a pair of nerdy frames ground this floaty babydoll dress.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Standing out from the pastel-clad crowd, Lauren Santo Domingo strikes a bright chord in this beautiful floral dress.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Another take on an increasingly popular trend—the white suit. The disco-ready gem embellishment puts this firmly in the couture realm of daywear.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Oh, hello Jourdan Dunn! Here she is looking rather gorgeous in Ralph & Russo.
Photo:
Edward Berthelot/Getty
Style Notes: Lauren Remington-Platt's doing a very convincing 1960s go-go girl thing in those knee boots with bare legs.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng/Getty
Style Notes: Nausheen Shah's artfully draped and folded top has us swooning.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng/Getty
Style Notes: Have you noticed the Beyoncé Lemonade effect on the streets too? Everyone's wearing this hue.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng/Getty
Style Notes: Designer Vika Gazinskaya punctuates her pastels with a shocking dash of Aquazzura red shoes.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng/Getty
Style Notes: Yes, the front of an outfit should make an impact, but never underestimate a great exit.
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: Doina Ciobanu's mix of ladylike and sporty makes for a laid-back but very lovely look.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng
Style Notes: Giorgia Tordini's wearing a robe from Attico, her own label (set up with fellow fashion girl Gilda Ambrosio).
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: Giovanna Battaglia's ensemble is a textural feast. Anyone else want to feel that skirt?
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: Who doesn't love a pre-layered dress? It does all the hard work for you.
Photo:
Melodie Jeng/Getty
Style Notes: Leopard print doesn't have to be garish—this subtle, red dress is a very good example of doing the pattern in a grown-up way.
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: Giovanna Battaglia's fit-and-flare dress looks like something out of a 1950s movie. She's modernised it with jumbo sunglasses and pointed shoes.
Photo:
Christian Vierig/Getty
Style Notes: This is a perfect example of the elevated sportswear idea—just look at the incredible craftsmanship on that Dior coat.
Click for the shakedown on pre-fall 2016's most important trends to shop now.