New York, London and Milan fashion weeks mark the return of partywear

Exactly a year ago I was in Paris within the last days of fashion month, with the spectre of the pandemic creeping ever closer. This season I am in front of a computer screen seeing the filmed runway shows of the virtual fashion weeks and lacking the glamour, so much in order that I have placed on long sparkly earrings and glittery Miu Miu shoes merely to set me in the zone.

It will need to have felt worse for the Golden Globe nominees stuck in the home, wearing couture in their kitchens, for the awards ceremony. Comfy couches replaced the red carpet while they waited on Zoom to hear if they had gained a gong or certainly not. Many people are feeling starved of high-octane glamour and none way more compared to the fashion houses who depend on the oxygen of publicity encircling the red-carpet season. Nevertheless, as was proved at last weekend’s awards ceremony, the stars stepped up to the plate and performed the style houses proud, twirling for selfies on the smartphone cameras using Dior, Prada and Oscar de la Renta.

There is an unforgettable dark green lurex gown and cape worn by Anya Taylor-Joy that took the Dior ateliers 300 hours to create; Prada’s 1920s chemise donned by Julia Garner; and Gal Gadot in a Givenchy babydoll.

There was no shortage of appetite to dress up among the stars, and designers are hopeful that as the lockdowns and restrictions start to lift internationally, we too will happily swap trackpants for sassy miniskirts, and venture out and party enjoy it may be the roaring ’20s yet again. A year of comfort dressing has started to pall and fashion houses happen to be packed with ideas for the freedom to arrive, with autumn/winter collections usually designed during strict lockdowns in Europe and America.

New York and London’s virtual Manner Weeks were packed with optimism, showing advanced dresses for big events, such as the gowns by Wes Gordon for Carolina Herrera, the seductive cafe society appears of Badgley Mischka and the 1980s taffeta prom dresses and uptown glamour at Prabal Gurung - every red-carpet-favourite designers.

Oscar de la Renta went big on 3D floral appliques and prints for minidresses and long dresses, and boldly coloured voluminous maxi dresses for autumn, providing a good amount of choice for nominees of the upcoming Academy Awards. The house scored popular at the Golden Globes with Amanda Seyfried in a 1930s-design peach-hued gown.

Elsewhere, partywear was even more provocative. There have been alluring and body-skimming catsuits, hot pants and minidresses from Tom Ford, who said in his collection notes: “Who doesn’t wish to be a badass, specifically after being trapped in the home for a year.” Clearly, he believes among the legacies of the pandemic is usually a good return of sexy.