It’s True—Designers Were Fashion Month’s Best Dressed Patrons

At this point, I’ve analyzed all of the shows from fashion month once, twice, and even three times to gain as much insight on the trends that will result from them as possible, so I know the fall 2024 collections, and I know them well. There were elegant displays brought forth with the use of heavy satin, pillbox hats, and fur shawls, as well as new, unexpected shapes in the form of cigarette pants, rounded shoulders, and hourglass waists. Funnel-necks and turtlenecks found ways to shine, as did liquid-like leather and classic sportswear à la Katharine Hepburn. It was, as a result, a season of fashion worth remembering. Oddly enough, though, the clothes that debuted on the runways aren’t the ones that have stuck with me most since Louis Vuitton closed out the season. Instead, it is what many of the industry’s most notable and exciting designers wore to take their final bows that are playing on a loop in my head post–fashion month.

This isn’t the first time that I’ve found myself enamored with what creative directors dress themselves in for their big reveals, and I’m certainly not alone in my interest in the subject. On Instagram, the account @whatmiuccia has amassed over 60,000 followers as it’s documented Mrs. Prada’s best style moments, including her always-chic, always-Prada (or Miu Miu) finale ensembles. On TikTok, a number of videos went viral during fashion month that were tied to designers and their style. Some, like this one by @leoshakes, tease designers for dressing so much more casually than the models they send walking down the runway, while most others, like this video featuring former Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton and her final collection for the British label, simply showcase the beauty in how contrasting the two entities can be, often using the hashtag #thedesignervsthedesign.

This season, however, the lineup of designers felt especially well-dressed, with Maximilian Davis of Ferragamo, Jonathan Anderson of JW Anderson and Loewe, Matthieu Blazy of Bottega Veneta, Grace Wales Bonner of Wales Bonner, and of course, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons from Prada all showcasing enviable looks at the end of their respective shows. And those are just a few of the highlights. Scroll down to see and shop my favorite looks from fashion month, none of which were worn by models on the runway.

Maximilian Davis is the designer behind one of the biggest brand shifts in recent times. He took the helm at Salvatore Ferragamo in March 2022 and after just one runway collection had the entirety of fashion talking about the Italian brand’s next era. Now four fashion seasons into his tenure, Ferragamo has a new, shortened name and an all-new look, making its biannual shows one of fashion month’s most talked-about and -anticipated of the entire calendar. And Davis always looks the part. At his F/W 24 show, the Trinidadian Jamaican designer, who was born in Manchester, kept his look ultra classic, with a black crewneck sweater layered on top of a long-sleeve white tee, black trousers, and lug-sole leather shoes. As always, he added his signature silver hoop earrings, a perfect final touch to any ensemble.