When I was in Paris recently for the Spring 2016 collections, I spotted a tall, striking blonde across a catwalk. I’d seen her at the same time, same place last year. Back then she was impossible to miss in a bite-size miniskirt and skyscraper heels; this time she wore a thick tweed mid-length skirt and demure flats. The blonde embodies fashion’s fast-changing spirit. As we move into the spring season, fashion is taking a turn toward a softer, vintage femininity: floral brocades, colorful stripes, and a ubiquity of Victoriana. Call it the Gucci effect. Even Gucci’s invitation had me blushing—tucked into a sheer, hand-embroidered lace envelope housed in a delicate paper frame. It was such an intimate, romantic gesture—truly a love letter. The show itself, held under the roof of…
