For the final leg of fashion month, the French capital plays host to the international fashion set for a nine-day fashion week extravaganza.
Although officially beginning on Monday 27 February, it was Tuesday that saw some of Paris’s most esteemed houses battle for the best front row.
Dior hosted its AW23 collection at The Tuileries, and welcomed a stellar cast of actors including Charlize Theron, Gal Gadot and Game of Thrones’ Maisie Williams to enjoy Maria-Grazia Chiuri’s latest offering.
Later that evening, Saint Laurent erected a black box show space in the Trocadero Gardens, and attracted one of the starriest front rows seen across the fashion capitals this season.
Wearing Anthony Vaccarello’s Saint Laurent designs, legions of fans counted brand ambassadors Dua Lipa and Zoë Kravitz, alongside the likes of Olivia Wilde, Blackpink’s Rosé and Salma Hayek. Also there to enjoy the final show on Tuesday night were Londoners Lila Moss, Adwoa Aboah and Madonna’s artist son Rocco Ritchie.
Wednesday saw Paco Rabanne show for the first time since the house founder’s death in February, with singer Halsey and model Jourdan Dunn leading the crowds inside. Afterwards, Acne Studios welcomed guests including Heartstopper’s Yasmin Finney and The Morning Show’s Bel Powley inside a fantasy forest showspace created by set designer Shona Heath.
The blockbuster show to round off the evening was Balmain, where creative director Olivier Rousteing snubbed his brand signatures in favour of 80s shoulder pads and 50s-style nipped waists. There to support was American actress Jessica Alba and model Ashley Graham, who joined TikToker Noah Beck and Elon Musk’s mother Maye on the front row.
The most anticiapted show on Thursday was Off-White, where Sierra Leone-born, London-based editor Ibrahim Kamara presented his debut collection as art and image director of the brand founded by the late Virgil Abloh. Naomi Campbell walked, and the likes of Jodie-Turner Smith and Tessa Thompson clapped her on.
Actor Jared Leto then seemed determined to make his mark on Paris, first arriving at Givenchy with red eyeshadow and a sparkling gold blouse, before making a bold entrance with warrior style black shadow at the evening’s Schiaparelli show. There, he joined house founder Elsa Schiaparelli’s granddaughter Marisa Berenson and Chinese actress Fan Bing Bing.
Models Emily Ratajkowski and Naomi Campbell swapped the catwalk walk for a seat to see Jonathan Anderson’s latest Loewe collection on Friday morning. Anderson is famous for his mix of attendees, which this season saw actress Chloë Sevigny, Olympian Dina Asher-Smith and Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino all rub elbows.
Later that day, Harris Reed showed his debut collection at Nina Ricci with he support of American actress Kiernan Shipka, before Victoria Beckham had her family cheerleaders — including husband David — as well as best friend Eva Longoria bunched up on her front row.
Proceedings only ramped up over the weekend. A sombre yet celebratory affair was held at Vivienne Westwood, the first collection shown since her death last December. Georgia May Jagger, Julia Fox, Jared Leto and Halsey all took their seats, alongside Westwood’s friends artist Tracey Emin and designer Pam Hogg. Later on Saturday, Alexander McQueen hosted the likes of Dame Anna Wintour, Eddie Redmayne and actresses Indya Moore and Elle Fanning to watch Campbell open the show.
And on Sunday night, Valentino held on a no-holds-barred extravaganza welcoming one of the most star studded F’rows this week. Florence Pugh arrived in a sparkling sheer skirt, knickers and a grey tracksuit top, posing with the likes of Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra. But eyes turned to Brooklyn and Nicola Peltz Beckham, the newlyweds in the midst of continued drama regarding their wedding planning, who sat alongside actress Emma Roberts to enjoy the show.
Stella McCartney cantered into Monday morning with a bright and early show featuring seven wild horses and a horse whisperer. The real whispering was about the Alves McConaugheys in attendece, however — namely 14 year old Levi who looked the spitting image of his father, Matthew. Also there was Jessica Alba, Munroe Bergdorf and McCartney’s sister Mary.
Zendaya made her first PFW appearance of the week in a tiger print blazer and short shorts, and was spotted slipping in late to the Louis Vuitton show where she sat by Emma Stone. The Euphoria actress made time to pose with new Louis Vuitton menswear creative dirctor Pharrell Williams, while the likes of Jaden Smith, Haim and longtime LV ambassador Alicia Vikander enjoyed the show.
On the final day of Paris Fashion Week, chaos hit the city, violent strikes broke out, and guests and editors headed to get flights and Eurostars out of the city before services stopped. It was a dramatic backdrop, but not enough to deter eager fans to the see Chanel and Miu Miu collections. Kylie Mingoue was Miu Miu’s surprise star, and joined Alexa Chung and the Peltz Beckhams in watching the naughty nerd collection, duly closed by actor-turned-model Emma Corrin.
