Designer Woo Young Mi drew on so many references: K-pop, Y2K, South Korea’s volcanic landscape, the country’s pavilion at the 1900 Paris Exposition and the bold jewelry worn by the male warriors and rulers of the ancient Silla Kingdom.
It was dizzying, but this coed collection was quite the opposite. It was sharp and clean with Woo focusing on tailoring, comfort and practicality.
She wasn’t alone. In Paris there were no ties, and suits were roomy, soft and versatile. Designers are giving new meaning to office dressing.
At Wooyoungmi, instead of ties, there were two-tone turtlenecks or fuzzy, sparkly wool sweaters layered under suits and top coats.
Tailoring was cozy, too. Long fly-front, bathrobe or side-button coats, were as big as blankets, while trenchcoats and corduroy jackets had a subtle, sculptural layer of padding. Suits were languid, layered with knits or waistcoats and worn with sneakers.
The color palette was neutral with pops of baby blue and teal, both of which figured big on the Paris runways. Orange made an appearance in the volcanic lava designs that flowed across boxy jeans and denim shirts, radiating more warmth in this gentle embrace of a collection.