Fashion Month CliffsNotes: 9 Shows to Know, According to Our Editors

For editors, fashion month is our Mount Everest to climb. It's equal parts exhilarating and demanding, and though it may seem a bit like a circus to some, the opportunity to absorb hundreds of collections, suss out trends, and predict which ones will take off is nothing short of a treat. And the best Spring/Summer 2019 fashion shows were the ones that — beyond being colorful, trendy, or cool to wear — made our editors pause and think on things above and beyond the exact sartorial moment. What unites the best designers, no matter how many seasons they've been at the helm, is their ability to both inspire and interpret the needs of women in the midst of a time where those qualities can feel lost.

Below, The Zoe Report's team of editors (that would be me, along with Lauren Caruso and Mecca James-Williams) share all the highlights from London, Milan, and Paris, detailing which shows stood out in all the silk and tulle-tinged fray. While each of us having to narrow things down to three picks was an (enviable) challenge, in the end we all agreed that this season offered a plethora of reasons to be excited for all the spring shopping ahead. Just know this: Narrowing it down to the CliffsNotes version is never easy.

Jil Sander

"This look represents who I want to be on my best day: At once effortlessly stylish, but also someone who has enough time in the morning to put together a layered outfit that doesn’t make me look like an elementary schooler who’s dressing herself for the first time. (Designers Luke and Lucie Meier’s genius tailoring here is key)." — Lauren Caruso, managing editor

Fendi

"I had a good feeling about the show when I saw Adwoa Aboah open in a brown leather-trimmed PVC trench that — despite the fact I’d already seen dozens of iterations this season — didn’t feel the least bit tired. (The cropped version, modeled by Binx Walton, sealed the deal.) And I particularly enjoyed the way Karl Lagerfeld reimagined their woman as one with a necessity for tools at her disposal: a multi-compartment waist belt that *could* hold a drill bit should she want (but also, maybe just a passport and keys) — and both dressed and skirts boasted pockets deep enough to hold the rest of the toolbox." —Caruso

Paco Rabanne

"Can you tell I’m really into layering this season? Instead of looking awkward, the length of the chain-link layered tunic (!) plays off the body-skimming silhouette of the reimagined pencil skirt to give an overall refined, confident tone." —Caruso

Rejina Pyo

This season, there was no collection that I loved quite so entirely as Rejina Pyo's. From the moment the first model stepped on the runway in a slime green button down and an oversized bucket hat, I was sold. The aesthetic felt like an elevated riff on my personal style: relaxed, humorous, but at times polished too. Now, the challenge for me will be deciding what to cherry-pick for my spring wardrobe. — Aemilia Madden, senior fashion editor

Louis Vuitton

I've been thinking about Louis Vuitton a lot in the past 24 hours. I've been thinking about the idea of dressing your age, about crisp suiting, about bold prints, about the intersection of gender in fashion. Nicolas Ghesquière's futuristic collection managed to go beyond the simple appeal of pretty clothes and spark a thoughtful inner-diologue which to me is one sign of true success in a collection. — Madden

Chanel

I'm a sucker for the all-out spectacle that is a Chanel show, and this season, Karl Lagerfeld definitely didn't disappoint. Models walked a faux beach barefoot in the house's signature tweeds, but this sweet yellow maxi dress was my favorite look. Also on my mind still are the accessories, PVC mules, statement earrings, and doubled-up bags are all now on my dream shopping list. — Madden

Loewe

"I've always loved Loewe, and this season designer Jonathan Anderson showed me again why I am so in awe of the brand. I love how Anderson mashes textures and colors together, yet every look still felt true to the brand — maybe that is what I loved most. In a time where brands identities are melding together by new creative directors, I appreciated the DNA that he embeds in the collections while still feeling new." — Mecca James-Williams, contributing market editor

Esteban Cortezar

"I often judge collections by how they make me feel. If I can picture myself or women I dream of styling in the pieces from shows, I'm so much more connected. This season, Cortezar’s show gave me that sensation. The dreamy pastel pinks mixed with the vibrant rich orange and burgundy hues complimented the models’ skin exceptionally. This show has me planning my next island excursion." — James-Williams

Miu Miu

"From the cropped polo, sequin skirt, and croc burgundy platforms. I can not get enough of Miu Miu’s look 16. The icing on top is seeing Madisin Rain sporting the ensemble, she is the new it-model that I am obsessed with." — James-Williams