Modest Fashion Styles Inspired by: Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, & Alexander McQueen
Wondering how to dress modest yet fashionably this fall? Look no further. This year’s fall collections were brimming with modest-friendly outfits, and I have put together the best finds to help you channel your inner modest fashionista. Starting with Saint Laurent, Stella McCartney, and Alexander McQueen. Here is a break down of the essences of their fall collection and how you can find modest more accessible alternatives.
Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent's fall 2023 collection was a bold exploration of power dressing, with a heavy emphasis on sharp tailoring, oversized silhouettes, and luxurious materials. The net effect of this presentation was a collection that can only be described as powerful, feminine, and opulent.
The collection showcased a wide range of suits, notably power suits that paid homage to the glamorous aesthetics of the 1980s. These suits had a unique twist in proportions, achieved by incorporating oversized blazers with dramatic shoulder pads and boxy cuts. The exaggerated size and dimensions of the blazers were further accentuated by styling them with slim-fitted black trousers or a pinstripe skirt, creating a silhouette that was both powerful and feminine.
The color palette mostly consisted of black, mustard brown, navy blue, and white/silver. This demure color palette did little to overshadow the opulence of the collection, exhibited through the precise tailoring, exquisite silk details, and styling of the pieces. Some glamour and opulence were also injected into the collection through the use of large tartan, velvet, or silk scarves wrapped around the shoulders and tied with ornate gold brooches.
If you want to recreate these looks, opt for simple black trousers, v-neck silk tops, roll-neck tops, or shirts with bow ties, and oversized blazers. And, of course, don't forget your aviator sunglasses.
Saint Laurent inspired modest style
All Saints Ilaria body suit, 2. Selected Femme Slflibbie maxi skirt, 3. Frankie shop blazer, 4. & other stories high neck blouse 5. H&M shirt, 6. Arket wool blend trousers, 7. Cashmere roll neck, 8. Arket wool blend trousers, 9. Saint Laurent aviators , 10. Auld Alliance hand made Scottish Scarf, 11. & other stories sling back heels,
Stella McCartney
The Stella McCartney fall show took place at the historic Manège de l’École Militaire, France's oldest manège. As expected, the theme of her collection drew heavy inspiration from equestrianism and-by extension-British heritage style.
The collection prominently featured classic two-piece suits, either with trousers or midi skirts. The suit fabric was printed with tartan-like, grey-black, or orange-brown, both of which evoked images of British country style. Some of the suit consisted of deconstructed trousers and cropped blazers, which can be easily made more modest (and more warm) if styled with thin polo, or white shirt underneath. There was also Napoleonic military inspired suits, which were astutely given a modern facelift by making them in off-white (rather than the more common navy and gold). Staying true to the equestrian theme, there were midi dresses adorned with horse braid-style straps and the use of metallic straps, both on clothing and as jewellery. The addition of tassels, faux leather, and thigh-high riding boots also added to the collection's equestrian theme. Many of the pieces displayed a horse motif, which was created by the designer's late mother and sister.
There was also a distinct preppy element in some of the pieces, reminiscent of university rugby shirts. These were styled with baggy pinstripe trousers, or with thigh high black boots.
The colour palette for the collection featured warm, rich shades of beige, as well as black, and bright red pieces-which popped against the backdrop of the beige soil of the manège.
If you would like to recreate these looks, consider opting for two-piece suits, in plain beige, orange-orange, or grey-black tartan print. Cropped blazers and baggy trousers, ideally in pinstripes. Preppy university rugby tops, styled with faux leather or pinstripe trousers and of course black shoes+.
+Although the show mostly featured long boots, I have added ballerina flats with their rounded fronts here, because in modest attire, with a longer hemline, thigh high boots will not be seen.
Stella McCartney inspired modest style
1.Alysa Maxi dress (zalando), 2.Intimissimi modal cashmere top, 3. & other stories padded shoulder blazer, 4. & other stories slim flared trousers, 5.COS desconstructed cropped blazer, 6. COS deconstructed trousers, 7. Out of stock: Uma Raquel Davidowicz skirt-overlay straight leg jeans, 8. & other stories ballerina flats.
Alexander McQueen
Alexander McQueen's fall show was a classic display of sartorial excellence and craftsmanship that paid tribute to the late McQueen's beginnings in Savile Row. Thematically, the show drew inspiration from anatomy, the anatomy of clothing, the human body, and flowers, specifically the orchid. What this translated to was a collection that featured well-crafted suits that emphasize the structure of the human form. The key word here is human form, not a gendered anatomy. To this end, male and female models were styled almost identically, which underscored the androgynous aspect of the human body.
The show featured suits that emphasize the shoulders and nip at the waist. Suit bustiers that emphasize the waist and draw attention to the shoulders and arms when paired with a billowing white shirt. These suits were styled with plain black or pinstripe wide-leg trousers. The combination of long blazers, wide-leg suit trousers, with heels created a taller, almost larger-than-life silhouette. Taken together, the pieces and styling of the show conveyed strict, androgynous glamour that harkened to the 1940s with a hint of Helmut Newton-esque boldness.
The collection also drew inspiration from the anatomy of flowers, specifically the orchid. This theme inspired the creation of beautiful dresses with ethereal details resembling flower petals adorning the neck, shoulders, and hems.
If you want to recreate the Alexander McQueen look, opt for well-tailored suits, styled with a white shirt and black tie.
Alexander McQueen inspired modest style
COS pinstripe dress, 2.COS pinstripe trousers, 3. Veronica Beard Ellette Dickey double-breasted pinstriped wool-blend blazer, 4. Veronica Beard onelli pinstriped wool-blend straight-leg pants, 5. Massimo Dutti poplin shirt, 6. Agolde leather blend trousers, 7. Yas Molly waistcoat, 8. COS point heels, 9. Hugo boss black tie