Paul Smith FW24 Is a Lesson In Wearability

Wearability is the name of the game at Paris Fashion Week, with dozens of on-schedule designers looking to revamp the modern wardrobe with everlasting essentials. Paul Smith is the man for the job, seeing his uniquely British identity reign supreme across iconic in-house styles. The designer landed on Parisian soil to debut his technical and dapper Fall/Winter 2024 collection, taking his latest creations inside a marbled venue drenched in natural sunlight. While mirrored slabs were mounted in asymmetry, models were released in a mirage of daily apparel clad in versatile fabrics.

Paul Smith FW24 is for men on the move, seeing the highly-commercial range draw eyes far and wide. Purples, blues, greens, and yellows ruled the collection at every point, becoming instantly identifiable through casual tailoring and weekend-ready uniforms. A slim-cut nylon trench coat opened the occasion, followed by puffed outerwear and cozy ribbed knitwear with speckled detailing.

Shearling-lined aviator jackets arrived ready for flight, while premium denim received utility attachments for easy storage. Paul Smith recalled textured gilets as his favorite seasonal item, dressing his in glossy textiles. Workwear silhouettes flourished across the collection with minimalistic florets, completing the collection with several acid-washed ensembles injected with rebellion.

Speaking to Hypebeast backstage, Paul Smith said:

“The inspiration behind the collection is to create wearable clothes. I wanted to create things that you can put in your wardrobe and that work with items that you already have, which I think is really essential right now. We have some beautiful colors: deep aubergine, navy blue, dark brown, and little punctuation marks of color like these ochre and lime touches. We mixed utility and tailoring with nylon and gaberdine fabric, which is very fluid and nice to wear. Two-piece trousers and softer shoulders, and we have five new tailoring styles.

As for footwear, we did a vintage-inspired trainer that you can get with matching laces or contrast laces. We also created lots of shoes with Vibram soles, making them very thick but light. The collection is very relaxed, with luxurious fabrics, hand stitching, and interesting small details like asymmetrical pockets. The reason why I’m here after a long time is the subtle changes, rather than making clothes that are too gimmicky or radical.”

Take a closer look at Paul Smith’s FW24 collection in the gallery above, and stay tuned for more Paris Fashion Week content on Hypebeast.