Show Review: Saint Laurent Fall 2017

Anthony Vaccarello’s approach to fashion is grandiose and glamorous—well, save for the mini skirts that have become one of his signatures. In his second show for Saint Laurent, he continued the rock and roll sensibility that’s become synonymous with his brand—a vibe he inherited from the iconic French fashion house’s previous designer Hedi Slimane.

Barely-there mini skirts, ruched mini skirts, sultry dresses with low-cut necklines, and zipper accents were pure and unadulterated Vaccarello.

He was inspired by evening and the 80’s—not groundbreaking sources of inspiration, but definitely two that provided a lot of fun and functionality. Plunging mini dresses, embellishment, ruching, and strong shoulders brought his influence to life beautifully.

The use of embellishment here made me excited about getting dressed again. Rhinestone-adorned shorts, boots, a button-front shirt, and blazer are all things I have in my closet, but not in the ultra-glamorous variety.

And the uplift of the mundane was inspiring. Glossy mini skirts were paired with chunky knits and cozy takes on the denim jacket, while zip-detailed, shearling lined shrugs accented the most basic—though simultaneously luxe and soft of course—turtlenecks.

“I want to be ensconced in velvet.” Not sure if Vaccarello knows about George Costanza’s iconic line from Seinfeld, but it seems he’s abiding by it either way. The sumptuous fabric was mostly used for evening, though we envision an “It” girl for two pairing the designs with fishnets and high-top sneakers for the season.

Menswear was also included on the runway, with pieces that I absolutely want to borrow from the boys this very second. Flashy polo shirts, expertly-tailored suiting, chic all-in-ones, and crystal-embellished blazers were all on display—and definitely unisex designs might I add.

Dakota Johnson, Nicole Richie, Julianne Moore, and Ashley Madekwe are all fans of the brand and they were undoubtedly charmed by the collection’s array of leg-baring dresses. A black velvet pleated gown on Binx Walton literally took slits to all new heights, while blue suede boots on Julia Nobis could be the perfect anchors to a thigh-grazing mini dress.