From Chanel to Dolce & Gabbana, the 18 Best Fashion Looks of December
Looking ahead to stepping out in style once again, WSJ. picks the top looks from the December fashion presentations
By Jenny Hartman and Alexander Fisher
A new type of fashion season continued to evolve this month, with designers presenting their latest collections in a wide array of formats, including short films and virtual-reality experiences. The collections were mostly pre-fall—though Dolce & Gabbana showed haute couture, Saint Laurent, Bottega Veneta and Brandon Maxwell showed their spring collections and Balenciaga showed its fall collection. Featuring clothes that will start to hit stores as winter gives way to warmer weather, these collections are a crystal ball for the future of dressing up. What will suit the highly anticipated occasion? A floor-length fringe tunic from Oscar de la Renta or a dazzling suit from Givenchy? Designers, tasked with the unprecedented challenge of making clothes in the age of coronavirus, have introduced a subdued kind of glamour: Festive details, like marabou feathers and outsize sleeves were paired with the cozy fabrics and fluid silhouettes that everyone has grown accustomed to wearing at home. Take, for example, Brandon Maxwell’s cheeky take on the three-piece suit—a bralette, jacket and pant all tailored entirely out of gray sweatshirt-style material. There will really be no excuse not to dress up in 2021, even if it’s just to run errands.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BOTTEGA VENETTA
Brighten up the work week and weekend alike in a shrunken, strawberry pink skirt suit from Bottega Veneta.
PHOTO: JONAS GUSTAVSSON
A tailored look from Brandon Maxwell means never having to say goodbye to your sweats.
PHOTO: MÉTIERS D’ ART 2020-21, LOOK 50 COURTESY OF CHANEL
Ease back into evening wear with black velvet leggings accented with gold paillettes from Chanel.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DIOR MEN
A look from the Dior Men’s collection achieves the dream of wearing a satin suit and slippers.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ETRO
Etro offers a newfound freedom to wear just about anything with a pair of baggy jeans.
PHOTO: SEBASTIAN KIM / COURTESY OF FEAR OF GOD
Fear of God’s new suiting separates leave just enough room for a favorite sweatshirt.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF FERRAGAMO
Salvatore Ferragamo layers a long leather skirt over a casual outfit of leggings and a poplin button up.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF GIVENCHY
Givenchy’s gold lapels give bare skin a chance to glow.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF JIL SANDER
The clean lines of Jil Sander’s silhouettes make a strong case for getting back into a power suit.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF KHAITE
Keep things simple with a crisp white shirt and miniskirt from Khaite.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MAX MARA
Wrap up in cozy monochrome layers from Max Mara.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF MCQUEEN
Creative director Sarah Burton pares back embellishment and prints to put the focus on structure and shape in this Alexander McQueen trench coat.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF OSCAR DE LA RENTA
A silk fringe dress from Oscar de la Renta strikes the right balance between red-carpet-ready and evening-at-home.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF SAINT LAURENT
Saint Laurent elevates the Zoom top with an easy floral blouse trimmed with bold marabou feathers.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ULLA JOHNSON
A playful silhouette and graphic print meet the comfort of knits in this dress from Ulla Johnson.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF VERSACE
Sleek body-skimming dresses from Versace are as sexy as they are essential.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF BALENCIAGA
Straight out of Balenciaga’s futuristic VR video game an off-shoulder trench styled with medieval armor-style stiletto boots.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF DOLCE&GABBANA
Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda couture collection, entirely fatto a mano, mixes a strong shoulder and shawl lapels with a touch of exposed underpinnings.