How befitting that International Women’s Day fell in the middle of Paris Fashion Week. This season, strong and powerful females were celebrated with sanguine and confident collections – full of ingenuity and occasionally, a bit of lighthearted humor. Women, so hot right now!

Chloé: The folksy standing that Chloé is beginning to manifest is a nice departure from the blushing french woman that was embodied for so long. Penny Lane’s dream wardrobe seemed to be the end goal, using shearling, heat to toe denim and flowy maxis affixed with strappy vests to paint the entire ’70s picture. Patchwork, wide leg corduroy, and floor sweeping coats along with astounding leather accessories was an easy ticket to get us humming Dreams.

Giambattista Valli: If you ever find yourself tiring of the humdrum monotony that fashion can sometimes exhibit, a gaze at a Giambattista Valli runway will instantly reinvigorate your fashion soul. This season, there was a refreshing emphasis on ruffled necklines and wide leg trousers in a slew of mismatched metallic, floral and graphic prints. Clashing? Yes. Brilliant? Absolutely.

Coperni Femme: Named after Nicholas Copernicus, the astronomer who theorized the Sun in the center of the solar system rather than Earth, Coperni Femme found literal and avant garde ways to use the omnipresent circle throughout the entire collection. Leather disc patterns, wave like peplums and removable, wrist twisting ruffle cuffs . . . circles were everywhere and so cleverly executed by designers Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant. This, my friends, is a label to watch.

Stella McCartney: Once again proving she’s the master of cool insouciance, Stella did not disappoint with a collection full of monochrome looks, faux fur coats, flared trousers, and a focus on asymmetry. Standouts for us were the one-sleeved knit tunics and tailored dresses with straps purposively falling off the shoulder. Off the shoulder, off the hook.

Maison Rabih Kayrouz: As you may know, we’ve been pretty enamored with the minimalism tone that many designers have begun showing over the last few seasons, but with so many doing it, it’s easy to notice an expert at work. Maison Rabih Kayrouz’ runway this season showed just how talented he is at modernizing a style that’s been around for decades. Cutout tabs resembling papel picado and finger-like fringe wove the collection of layered skirts and freely draped dresses together. Unusual necklines on button downs and gowns were the delicate touches that brought this gestural collection to life.

Valentino: We can always rely on Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli to floor us with their ethereal, far too pretty to be real gowns. Their signature floor sweeping silhouettes were embellished with layers of tulle, bold embroidery and poppy prints designed by their muse Celia Birtwell. But it was the more casual looks that stole our hearts this season – we were smitten with the oversized sweaters slung over semi-sheer skirts and the beautifully tailored silk crepe dresses finished with simple contrast piping. And with an epic walk-off by Derek Zoolander and Hansel to close the show, how can you not bid adieu to fashion week with an all time high?!

(images via Vogue.com & Style.com)