Issey Miyake S/S 2020 Paris Fashion Week Women's

Mood board: Fashion shows have a reputation for being a touch froid, with front rowers and models alike barely breaking a smile. Issey Miyake’s show – the first of womenswear designer Satoshi Kondo – shattered such perceptions. The designer’s theatrical, euphoric and energetic catwalk show, was aimed to provide a ‘sense of joy’ equivalent to ‘the ease we feel when a breeze caresses our face’, something that the brand’s easy, movement-encouraging and technically innovative clothing encompasses.
Kondo split his show into a series of acts, with a live electronic performance provided by DeLaurentis. Here, models appeared in bright parachute-like nylon dresses and cagoules, which ballooned around their bodies as they span or skateboarded down the catwalk, or were suspended from the ceiling in twirling arabesques sporting fluid dresses. Elsewhere, they crossed each other serenely in groups, clad in huge papery sunhats, shawl coats and T-shirt dresses in desert tones or Matisse white-and-blues, hand painted with people in a warm embrace. It was hard to find a single unsmiling face in the audience or on the catwalk.
Best in show: The motion in Miyake’s catwalk shows alert the audience to the technical skill hidden inside each piece, as they appear to bob or glide along the runway. For Kondo’s ‘Panorama Colour Pleats’ section models looked to the ceiling, where circles of colourful fabric hovered overhead. These were lowered onto their bodies and transformed into brightly colour blocked pleated dresses, which bobbed energetically as models danced and jumped in time with each other on the runway.
Finishing touches: With a 77-look show swathed in colourful, hand painted or technical pleated fabrics focus was bought into the collection with a series of comfortable shoes, culminating in slip on pumps or flip flops with chunky teeth like soles.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
-
A Rancho Mirage home is in tune with its location and its architect-owners' passions
Architect Steven Harris and his collaborator and husband, designer Lucien Rees Roberts have built a home in Rancho Mirage, surrounded by some of America’s most iconic mid-century modern works; they invited us on a tour
-
The world’s best swimwear brands, according to Wallpaper*
From architectural precision to a sense of ease and luxury, our comprehensive guide to the world’s best swimwear brands – for both men and women – will help you find the perfect beach attire this summer
-
Aesop’s Queer Library bookmarks brilliant literature, no purchase required
Returning to London’s Soho, 3-6 July 2025, the Queer Library pop-up offers complimentary books by LGBTQIA+ authors and allies
-
Art meets perfume in cross-disciplinary fragrance series Nez 1+1
Talents from film and fragrance come together to create Ansongo, the latest scent resulting from a creative matchmaking project by perfume revue Nez
-
Haute Couture Week A/W 2025: what to expect
Five moments to look out for at Haute Couture Week A/W 2025 in Paris (starting Monday 7 July), from Glenn Martens’ debut for Maison Margiela to Demna’s Balenciaga swansong. Plus, ‘new beginnings’ from JW Anderson
-
The collections you might have missed this S/S 2026 menswear season
Between the headliners in Paris, Milan and Florence, a few off-schedule displays are deserving of honourable mention – from Martine Rose’s sexually-charged portrait of Kensington Market to Sander Lak’s appointment-only namesake debut
-
‘They gave me carte blanche to do what I want’: Paul Kooiker photographs the students of Gerrit Rietveld Academie for Acne Studios
Heralding the launch of a new permanent gallery from fashion label Acne Studios, the celebrated Dutch photographer’s new body of work praises the bravery of ‘people who choose to go to an art school at a time like this’
-
‘I’m surprised that I got this far’: Rick Owens on his bombastic Paris retrospective, ‘Temple of Love’
The Dark Prince of Fashion sits down with Wallpaper* to discuss legacy, love, and growing old in Paris as a display at the Palais Galliera tells the story of his subversive career
-
The standout shows of Paris Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2026: Hermès to Craig Green
Wallpaper* picks the very best of Paris Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2026, from Véronique Nichanian’s portrait of summer in the city for Hermès to Craig Green’s return to the Paris runway
-
Paris Fashion Week Men’s S/S 2026: live updates from the Wallpaper* team
From 24-29 June, Paris Fashion Week Men’s arrives in the French capital. Follow along for a first look at the shows, presentations and other fashion happenings, as seen by the Wallpaper* editors
-
The best of Pitti Uomo 108, from guest stars to gelato
Wallpaper* picks the best of the twice-yearly menswear fair, which took place in Florence this week and featured guest shows from Homme Plissé Issey Miyake and rising Italian star Niccolò Pasqualetti, as well as a Tommy Hilfiger social club and Margaret Howell gelato