Fashion week S/S 2014 invitations: womenswear collections

Fashion Week invitations from the S/S 2014
Our favourite Fashion Week invitations from the S/S 2014 season's womenswear selection ranges in spectrum from de-bossed minimalism to 3D flash Writer: Mariel Reed; Photography: Jessica Klingelfuss
(Image credit: Jessica Klingelfuss)

Abstract layers, sprayed in different shades of pink

Fendi: Abstract layers, sprayed in different shades of pink, created a gradient effect 

(Image credit: Fendi)

Negative space was used to differentiate between men's and women's collection invites

Dries Van Noten: Negative space was used to differentiate between Dries Van Noten's S/S 2014 men's and women's collection invites. In delicate gold leaf, this exquisitely thin acetate sheet was the womenswear mate to the corresponding menswear invitation

(Image credit: Dries Van Noten)

an invitation art booklet

Saint Laurent: Along with a complete rebrand of the historic house, new creative director Hedi Slimane introduced an invitation art booklet to Saint Laurent. This season it features the works of Guy de Cointet (1978-1982) who went to high school with Yves Saint Laurent

(Image credit: Saint Laurent)

small box opens to reveal a pop-up deer-girl hybrid, camouflaged by paper vegetation

Antonio Marras: Perhaps the most creative invite of the season, this small box opens to reveal a pop-up deer-girl hybrid, camouflaged by paper vegetation. Inspired by metamorphosis, Marras looked to artist Kathy Ruttenberg's 'Nature of the Beast' exhibit at the Stux Gallery in New York for this collection

(Image credit: Antonio Marras)

textured invitation, with 3D waves rippling across the vivid blue card

Kenzo: The brand's ocean-conscious collection for S/S 2014 was reflected in its textured invitation, with 3D waves rippling across the vivid blue card

(Image credit: Kenzo)

A strip of black vinyl tape ran through the centre of Rochas' printed peach card

Rochas: A strip of black vinyl tape ran through the centre of Rochas' printed peach card, breaking up the softness of the gravure finish

(Image credit: Rochas)

black package embossed with the logo contained cards printed with works by El Mac

Prada: For her 'In the Heart of the Multitude' project, Miuccia Prada commissioned artists to create works that engage themes of femininity, representation, power and multiplicity. A black package embossed with the logo contained cards printed with works by El Mac, Mesa, Gabriel Specter, Stinkfish and illustrators Jeanne Detallante and Pierre Mornet

(Image credit: Prada)

golden ticket, embossed with little detail

Chloé: Chloé's golden ticket was ostentatious yet minimal. Embossed with little detail, the mirrored card drew attention by reflecting light from all angles

(Image credit: Chloé)

limited-edition print with its invitation packet

Givenchy: Each season Givenchy sends a limited-edition print with its invitation packet. For S/S 2014, guests were sent 'Flag/Givenchy' by M/M (Paris), 2013. Wallpaper* received the uniquely stamped edition number 241 out of 1,000

(Image credit: Givenchy)

On A5 card, this invitation captures the shadow of a hand holding a hat worn by Howell's models

Margaret Howell: On A5 card, this invitation captures the shadow of a hand holding a hat worn by Howell's models. The reverse revealed details of the London studio show

(Image credit: Margaret Howell)

ivory card from Ferragamo had a milky smoothness from its textured matte finish

Salvatore Ferragamo: The ivory card from Ferragamo had a milky smoothness from its textured matte finish, which more than made up for the lack of detail printed on the invitation

(Image credit: Salvatore Ferragamo)

strikingly minimal slice of polished steel, complemented by the unusual weight of the space-age metal object

Topshop Unique: Experimenting with new materials, Topshop Unique used a strikingly minimal slice of polished steel, complemented by the unusual weight of the space-age metal object

(Image credit: Topshop Unique)

the pink and silver polka dot-themed package provided a vintage clinquant appeal

Acne Studios boutique opening: In contrast to its minimal show invite, Acne sent an invitation to the opening of its new Paris store. Complete with a napkin advertising the drinks reception venue, the pink and silver polka dot-themed package provided a vintage clinquant appeal

(Image credit: Acne Studios)

On iridescent card, this chromatic invite was highly impactful considering the lack of text or embellishment

Alberto Guardiani: On iridescent card, this chromatic invite was highly impactful considering the lack of text or embellishment

(Image credit: Alberto Guardiani)

The invite and matching envelope came de-bossed with an abstract circular pattern

Tod's: The invite and matching envelope came de-bossed with an abstract circular pattern. Included was an invitation into Alessandra Facchinetti's design process. Featuring her sketches, notes and even a laser-cut leather swatch, the mock sketchbook bound in orange textured card provided insight into the 'Italian Set' theme of the show

(Image credit: Tod's)

black textured-matte finish created a bold leather effect

Giles: The card's black textured-matte finish created a bold leather effect. Giles used this in combination with the pink lips that appeared intermittently throughout his collection - here in UV-varnish to create a contrasting surface

(Image credit: Giles)

fibre-infused sheet folds out revealing an image of the Celine logo imprinted in cement

Céline: A fibre-infused sheet folds out revealing an image of the Celine logo imprinted in cement. With the textured invite came Phoebe Philo's mood book, containing images of graffiti shot by Hungarian photographer Brassaï

(Image credit: Céline)

A UV-varnished card with gold foil edging

DSquared²: A UV-varnished card with gold foil edging featured a Mondrian-esque geometric pattern in maroon and gold

(Image credit: DSquared²)

 Inside a book-like buckram case, Chanel presented its 'Art…' collection look book on individual cards and a USB key

Chanel: Inside a book-like buckram case, Chanel presented its 'Art…' collection look book on individual cards and a USB key. The invitation itself was printed on buckram-covered mount board, with show details printed on the back, made to look like the back of a painting canvas

(Image credit: Chanel)

An envelope and card the colour of hearth-warming peat featured de-bossed Moncler branding and foil-printed text

Moncler Gamme Rouge: An envelope and card the colour of hearth-warming peat featured de-bossed Moncler branding and foil-printed text

(Image credit: Moncler Gamme Rouge)

flexible Perspex was printed with silver and featured a transparent window border

Versace: Reflecting the theme of this season's menswear invitation, flexible Perspex was printed with silver and featured a transparent window border. Versace's logo stood solo on the front

(Image credit: Versace)

 Printed powder pink

Sportmax: Printed powder pink, this triplex invite alluded to the S/S 2014 collection's feminine palette

(Image credit: Sportmax)

Trapezoidal gold paper unfolded to reveal a gold foil-embossed invitation on white card

Akris: Trapezoidal gold paper unfolded to reveal a gold foil-embossed invitation on white card

(Image credit: Akris)

Pringle's royal blue triplex styrofoam invitation was printed with a detail shot of sports-mesh

Pringle of Scotland: Symbolic of the sports luxe approach taken for the house's S/S 2014 collection, Pringle's royal blue triplex styrofoam invitation was printed with a detail shot of sports-mesh

(Image credit: Pringle of Scotland)

rough texture added a contrasting surface to the black foil typeface

Louis Vuitton: An all-black invitation was a direct reference to Marc Jacobs' noir finale collection for Louis Vuitton. The rough texture added a contrasting surface to the black foil typeface

(Image credit: Louis Vuitton)

embossed with the duo-textured pattern in silk foil on mount board with bright orange edging

Paul Smith: Houndstooth often plays an essential role within Paul Smith's collections. For S/S 2014 his invitation was embossed with the duo-textured pattern in silk foil on mount board with bright orange edging. The opposite side featured screen-printed show details in contrasting luminous green

(Image credit: Paul Smith)

primitive de-bossing technique on white paper raised the letters far off the card

Masha Ma: Masha Ma delivered an arrestingly minimal invitation. A primitive de-bossing technique on white paper raised the letters far off the card, creating a three-dimensional texture. All in white, the folded card and off-kilter envelope were pristinely simple

(Image credit: Masha Ma)

Alternate dye-cut rounded edges, embossed with a distinctly modern H logo

Hermès: Alternate dye-cut rounded edges create the illusion of a parallelogram. The front of the card was embossed with a distinctly modern H logo

(Image credit: Hermès)

black mount-board was printed with a bold graphic in vinyl and UV-varnish

Neil Barrett: Almost identical to the men's invitation, this black mount-board was printed with a bold graphic in vinyl and UV-varnish, creating an alternating texture throughout the text. The same graphic appeared on garments in the collection

(Image credit: Neil Barrett)

colourful abstract illustration was printed on white card

Pierre Hardy: A colourful abstract illustration was printed on white card. The flip side revealed an invitation to view the designer's latest women's shoe and bag collection

(Image credit: Pierre Hardy)

An MDF 'seating block' allocation was edged in gold and coated with white textured paper

Miu Miu: Using the same format as past seasons, Miu Miu adorned each component of the invite with a cloth label. An MDF 'seating block' allocation was edged in gold and coated with white textured paper, while the invitation itself was coated in a rubbery vinyl with gold-leaf detail

(Image credit: Miu Miu)

Gold and rose gold foil fronted this UV-varnished invitation

Gucci: Gold and rose gold foil fronted this UV-varnished invitation from Frida Giannini. The minimal two-tone facade was echoed on the opposite side in white with gold foil text

(Image credit: Gucci)

envelope swathed with a red foil logo, graced with an illustration of a stiletto heel

Roger Vivier: Delivered in an envelope swathed with a red foil logo, Roger Vivier's mount-board invitation was graced with an illustration of a stiletto heel and detailed with matching red foil

(Image credit: Roger Vivier)

collection of unusual envelopes highlight the different calligraphic styles and sizes

A collection of unusual envelopes highlight the different calligraphic styles and sizes used this season

(Image credit: press)

The UV-varnished card was the same shade of pink seen throughout Richard Nicoll's collection

Richard Nicoll: The UV-varnished card was the same shade of pink seen throughout Richard Nicoll's collection. De-bossed with the designer's name, the simple invite matched many of the minimal looks on the catwalk

(Image credit: Richard Nicoll)

green googly-eye ring

Stella McCartney: Known for attaching gifts to her invitations, Stella McCartney gave out green googly-eye rings this season. Affixed to the card, the ring is arranged on a hand featuring logo-adorned nails

(Image credit: Stella McCartney)

A faintly de-bossed Art Deco pattern in matte white foil ornamented this white card with red edges

Alexander McQueen: A faintly de-bossed Art Deco pattern in matte white foil ornamented this white card with red edges. The pattern popped up frequently during the catwalk show, too

(Image credit: Alexander McQueen)

The type embossed on the back gave the illusion that the text had been pushed through the card and was printed in lemon sorbet yellow foil

Jil Sander: Repeating the format from seasons past, Jil Sander's robust card reflected the brand's minimalist aesthetic. The type embossed on the back gave the illusion that the text had been pushed through the card and was printed in lemon sorbet yellow foil on the front

(Image credit: Jil Sander)

laser-cut pop-up invitation

Burberry Prorsum: London landmarks emerge from inside Burberry Prorsum's laser-cut pop-up invitation. In the centre of the busy skyline is the British brand's Horseferry road headquarters

(Image credit: Burberry Prorsum)
Fashion Features Editor

Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.