Intricate textures, big chunky shoes and futuristic silhouettes were prevalent in the crowds at Paris Fashion Week, where Japanese labels like Comme des Garçons, Junya Watanabe and Yohji Yamamoto — all of which have long been favorites of the industry establishment — appeared to have infiltrated the wardrobes of many fans whose only view of the shows was from the streets.
It’s no wonder that Maison Margiela’s split-toe Tabi shoes have become so wildly popular: Japanese or Japanese-inspired pieces seem to be one of the clearest ways for both fashion novices and enthusiasts to signal that they are serious about clothes.
People’s experiments with asymmetrical layers and all manners of headwear brought to mind the often-uttered adage that fashion should be fun. And while many dialed up the whimsy when getting dressed, the diversity of outfits at Paris Fashion Week reflected another truism: With personal style, it is hard to go wrong.
