Leading fashion authorities from the WWD platform evaluated the top women’s runway shows of 2022, delivering an officially released list that captures the year’s standout moments across major houses and emerging talents. The compilation reflects a year of bold creativity, technical mastery, and a renewed dialogue between luxury craft and modern wearability for audiences in North America and beyond.
The crown for the best show went to the 2023 spring collection presentation by Bottega Veneta, showcased during Milan Fashion Week. Critics highlighted Mathieu Blazy’s second collection for the brand as a striking, high-energy entry that energized the schedule and set a new standard for the house. The coverage emphasized not only the drama on the catwalk but the careful execution of materials, silhouettes, and finishing touches that signaled a mature, confident direction for the label. The praise, coming from experienced journalists, underscored how thoughtful design can translate luxury into a tangible experience for viewers both in person and through media coverage .
Runner-up honors belonged to Gucci, staged at Milan Fashion Week with the spring lineup that marked Alessandro Michele’s final collection in his role as creative director. The reviewers praised the audacious spectacle and the way the show deepened Gucci’s narrative, culminating in a moment that felt both celebratory and introspective about the brand’s evolution. Observers noted the bold use of presentation, including a casting choice featuring 68 pairs of twin models—an avant-garde visual that amplified the collection’s themes and left a lasting impression on the season’s discourse .
The third place went to Louis Vuitton, whose seaside-inspired ship collection was transported to the Salk Institute in California for a stage that fused science, landscape, and couture. Critics described Ghesquière’s bold staging and color storytelling, where desert hues and oceanic tones collided with futuristic touches. The set design, lighting, and choreography built a narrative about movement, place, and identity, making the show a memorable clash of natural landscapes and refined tailoring .
Other notable entries that made the year’s best-list included Loewe, Valentino couture, Dior cruise, Rick Owens spring, and Chanel cruise collections. Each label contributed a distinct voice—whether it was Loewe’s sculptural silhouettes, Valentino’s romantic draping, or Chanel’s perennial elegance—ensuring a diverse panorama of style, technique, and inspiration across the season. The compilation demonstrates how luxury houses navigated shifts in consumer expectations while maintaining high standards of craftsmanship and storytelling on the runway .
In addition to the formal runways, broader industry reporting highlighted special initiatives and anniversaries that shaped audience anticipation. For instance, Gucci’s year-end presentation included a celebratory capsule that paid homage to a lunar calendar motif, while other houses leaned into archival references and modern reinterpretations of signature codes. These moments contributed to a year-long conversation about heritage, innovation, and the continued relevance of traditional craft in contemporary fashion narratives .
Overall, the year’s most acclaimed shows portrayed fashion as a dynamic platform where design, spectacle, and cultural context intersect. The rankings reflect not only technical expertise and creative daring but also a shared commitment to storytelling that resonates with audiences around the world. As the industry moves forward, observers will look to how these houses translate the energy of these shows into collections that endure beyond the final walk and into daily life .