Saint Laurent A/W 2019 Paris Fashion Week Women’s

Scene setting: For A/W 2019, Saint Laurent erected a huge silver box wrapped in mirror panelling, directly opposite the Eiffel Tower in Paris’ historic Place du Trocadero. As guests climbed the staircase into the space, the Eiffel Tower was reflected in a graphic, distorted image across the façade’s reflective panes. On arrival, guests sat on tiered seating running the length of one wall. As the show began, a mirror, behind the catwalk, and facing the audience, vanished to reveal lengths of vertically lined lightbulbs, which frenetically pulsated and twinkled throughout.
Mood board: In true Saint Laurent style, the aesthetic was glamorous rock ’n’ roll, the hemlines short and the spiky heels vertiginous. A series of opening looks introduced a new powerful silhouette for the house, with overcoats featuring huge square shoulders that nodded to the aesthetic of Claude Montana (whose legacy has just been reenergised by Gareth Pugh and vintage clothing specialist Byronesque). Yves Saint Laurent’s classic Le Smoking was seen in a white tuxedo suit paired with a black cummerbund, sequined asymmetric mini dresses had voluminous bow details, pencil skirts were trimmed with ostrich feather and sheer gowns with flamenco frills. Daring, decadent and va va voom.
Finishing touches: For the show’s finale, models disappeared behind the pane of glass, which framed the long catwalk. Male and female models were illuminated by ultraviolet light, and their final looks – like stilettos, feathered mini dresses, striped blazers and fur coats were illuminated in neon hues accordingly.
Saint Laurent A/W 2019.
Saint Laurent A/W 2019.
Saint Laurent A/W 2019.
Saint Laurent A/W 2019.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
Five of the best travel cameras, pocketable friends for the peripatetic
Selected by the Wallpaper* technology and travel team, the following cameras are tiny but mighty devices, dexterous at capturing memories
-
12 things not to miss at Art Basel 2025
Art Basel is bigger and better than ever. Avoid overwhelm, follow our definite what-to-see guide at this year's event (19-22 June)
-
A colourful outdoor bar, inspired by an unbuilt Louis Kahn design, is coming to Philadelphia this summer
Frankie's Summer Club, a vibrant pop-up café, marks a new chapter for the former University of the Arts campus.
-
What the Wallpaper* editors are looking forward to at Men’s Fashion Week S/S 2026
As Men’s Fashion Week S/S 2026 begins in Florence today, the Wallpaper* style team select the moments they will be looking out for – from Jonathan Anderson’s anticipated Dior debut to outings from Wales Bonner, Kiko Kostadinov and Prada
-
Donna Trope celebrates the power of the Polaroid in Paris
‘Polaroids used to be my rejects, and now they are my holy grail,’ says the beauty photographer, as she shows rarely seen images in a Paris exhibition
-
‘Don’t forget to get the bread!’ Serge Lutens writes an ode to a singular perfume
Published exclusively by Wallpaper*, Serge Lutens writes an ode to Jeux de Peau, a singular perfume of his creation inspired by a childhood memory of baking bread
-
Splash out! This summer’s must-have accessories take us to the beach
Summer’s mood of escapism infuses Wallpaper’s pick of the season’s best accessories for men and women, from micro bags to wraparound sunglasses
-
Sex, scent and celebrity: what perfume ads of the 2000s reveal about consumer culture today
In All-American Ads of the 2000s, the latest instalment of Taschen’s book series chronicling print advertising across ten decades, a section on perfume is a striking precursor for consumerism in the age of social media
-
What did Christian Dior’s favourite ‘invisible’ flower smell like?
Dior’s Francis Kurkdijan recreates the scent of a rare lily of the valley species in Le Muguet, the first olfactory chapter of new perfume collection Les Récoltes Majeures
-
The best beauty products of the month, from a ‘revolutionary’ Dyson hairdryer to zingy Hermès nail polish
The best beauty products of the month, selected by Wallpaper*, include Dyson’s life-changing new hairdryer, zingy springtime nail polish by Hermès and skin barrier saviours by the likes of Dr Barbara Sturm
-
The best fashion moments at Milan Design Week 2025
Scarlett Conlon discovers the finest fashion moments at Salone del Mobile and Milan Design Week 2025, from Loewe’s artist-designed teapots to The Row’s first home collection