Kenzo
Kenzo's show kicked off with six holographic pillars that moved forward like a wall, and then rotated to form a divider in the center of the runway. Photo: Getty Images
Gucci
For Alessandro Michele's debut collection, Gucci re-created a Milanese subway scene complete with tile walls and exit signage. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Dior
Inside a mirrored structure built in the Louvre's central plaza, Dior constructed a pastel pink, hyper-glossy set. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Givenchy
Arcade games, bicycles, and velvet-lined platforms created a makeshift Santa Monica pier in the center of Paris fashion week. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Marc Jacobs
Jeremiah Goodman's watercolor of Diana Vreeland's living room inspired the set at Marc Jacobs' show, serving as a reference for the image on the red walls and gray backdrop. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Chanel
Waiters, booths, and a full functional breakfast bar were just some of the highlights of Chanel's Brasserie Gabrielle set. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Alexander Wang
Alexander Wang's sparse, black runway provided a focused look at his mall goth collection. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Mary Katrantzou
With a runway lined in pink foam, Mary Katrantzou gave viewers a touch of sweetness during her London show. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Prada
A series of round rooms in green or pink provided the setting for Prada's supersweet Fall collection. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Louis Vuitton
Inside three reflective domes on the grounds of the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Bois de Boulogne, Nicolas Ghesquière and co. rigged up a series of cameras that played the show live on screens throughout the venue. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Proenza Schouler
The Whitney's uptown locale might be closed forever, but that didn't stop the Proenza Schouler boys from showing their Expressionist-inspired collection there. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Marc by Marc Jacobs
Marc by Marc Jacobs created a safe haven from the snow on the ground outside for its Fall show, turning a New York pier into a manicured lawn. Photo: Getty
Alexander McQueen
For the second time in her tenure as creative director of the house, Sarah Burton staged a show in the Conciergerie, the prison that held Marie Antoinette before her beheading. A good—albeit spooky—backdrop to Burton's collection influenced by Victoriana and mourning. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Rodarte
In keeping with past seasons, Rodarte constructed Dan Flavin-esque light structures at the center of its runway, offsetting the minimalism with bunches of foliage. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
Saint Laurent
A runway that rises and lowers, complete with speakers and concert-level lights? Only at Saint Laurent. Photo: Alessandro Garofalo / Indigitalimages.com
As debate rages on about the usefulness and necessity of elaborate sets and venues, one thing is clear: Designers pulled out all the stops for the Fall 2015 season. Some sets were simple yet poignant, like the pink foam at Mary Katrantzou or the light sculptures at Rodarte, others were large and elaborate, from Louis Vuitton’s mirrored domes to Saint Laurent’s rising runway. See those, and many more, in our slideshow of the best sets and venues of the season.
—Steff Yotka, Style.com
