Anyone who’s ever gone on a high-speed joy ride knows there’s a way of freedom, of rebelliousness, and of youth that’s hard to copy. And yet, by some means, Zadig & Voltaire has managed to capture it effortlessly. For the French fashion brand’s fall 2023 collection, creative director Cecilia Bönström drew inspiration from the auto industry, but fairly than using the road and track as her north star, she looked to the nostalgic designs of old, classic cars. “Tonight was really about two pictures: vintage red automobile seats and a girl in a full leather biker look,” she tells me after the show on Friday.
The gathering—which presented womenswear in addition to some menswear looks—teemed with the spirit of revolt topped off with a female flare, and that was exactly what the Swedish designer was going for. Models walked around a fountain of flames—which, Bönström shared, represented the burning desire for independence—in boxy, but relaxed, silhouettes. Think: textured leather suits with oversized blazers and relaxed leather pants, and a tricky, Matrix-style trench coat with a sheer black lace slip dress peeking out from underneath.
For Zadig & Voltaire, fall 2023 isn’t solely concerning the edgy biker-chic look one typically associates with leather jackets and combat boots (though there have been loads of those to go around on the runway). The F1 racing scene and the early 2000s have a heavy influence on key pieces, as well, especially with the more colourful items like a vibrant red leather jumpsuit or a coordinated set featuring a color-blocked leather jacket with matching pants. For those searching for more casual clothes, there have been bejeweled long-sleeve T-shirts with graphics that might have been mistaken for brand sponsors, paired with patent pants.
Undoubtedly, these looks are meant for the dance floor. After all, in case your style leans just a little more formal, there are a handful of tailored pieces to select from. The range is a far cry from the world of comfort we regularly embrace once the temperatures drop—and maybe that’s just what we’d like when it’s all too easy to bundle up and stay in. Suffice it to say, that is the cool shock of adrenaline to maintain you out all night long.
Watch the show below:
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ZADIG&VOLTAIRE | FALL-WINTER 2023 | FULL SHOW
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Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Previously, she was an editor at MensHealth.com and has written for Who What Wear, GLAMOUR, The Coveteur, and more. She loves fashion, food, and art, amongst other things—but her biggest love is K-pop idol V of BTS.
