From Balmain’s ode to Michael Jackson to the idea of “new masculinity” in John Galliano’s collection for Maison Margiela, here’s what fashion houses brought to the runway at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week.

Dior

The future and the archival past came together at the Dior debut of Kim Jones in Paris. Models in tulle and sheer shirts wore sneakers – chic, elegant but also maintaining the house’s characteristic edginess. It didn’t appear as though this was Jones’ first collection for Dior – it was like he’s been around since forever, smoothly merging the fashion house’s great tradition with his own personal artistry. “Gender doesn’t matter any more — it’s 2018,” Kim Jones told AFP, echoing the overarching message reverberating in the fashion world.

Maison Margiela

The show notes for Maison Margiela’s ‘Artisanal’ SS19 Menswear Collection stated that the garments were “an unrestricted foray into the territory of haute couture for men in a conversation with a new masculinity in motion,” reports High Snobiety. From skin-tight vinyl pants to re-purposed kimonos, the house’s creative director, John Galliano created what is being pegged as his first haute couture collection for men. AFP reports that the Galliano declared that the time had come to “liberate” men from their sartorial shackles and the collection on display at the Paris Men’s Fashion Week definitely seemed to do that.

Balmain

Olivier Rousteing’s Balmain Army strutted their stuff to Michael Jackson at the house’s show for Paris Men’s Fashion Week.  WWD reports that before the show began, Rousteig stated that his idea of men’s wear is not “one kind of guy, not straight or gay, not young or older, not skinny or fat. The message is, ‘Be yourself.’” Of course, Rousteing’s love for bling was there for all to see but the fashion house also seems to be broadening its interests and moving on to denim and knitwear.