Couture season ends with clubbing, celebrity and glamour
PARIS – The experimentalism and audacity of 1980s club kids inspired Valentino, one of the last high-octane shows of this Paris Fashion Week couture season.
Thousands of fans lined the Pont Alexandre III bridge on a chilly Wednesday night to scream as their idols went in and out – from K-pop star Suga of BTS fame to Anne Hathaway and Kylie Minogue – some of whom danced into early Thursday.
But screams also echoed inside the aptly named Bridge Club venue when supermodel Kristen McMenamy took a tumble as she walked the runway. Director Baz Luhrmann also spoke to The Associated Press about the Academy Award nominations for his movie “Elvis.”
Here are some highlights, including Thursday’s Fendi show:
VALENTINO LE CLUB COUTURE
The 1980s hit “Fade to Grey” by Visage echoed through the stone arches of the underground club venue, as fashion insiders – including Anna Wintour and couture favorite Luhrmann – tapped their feet and watched on.
It was a co-ed show for club kids.
In an irreverent take on classical couture, designer Pierpaolo Piccioli played with Valentino codes to make micro tops out of tulle bows, jumpsuits out of thousands of feathers and evening jackets out of metal beading.
He had a lot of fun along the way, lining the designs with polka dots in the spirit of 1980s euphoria.
Sheer lace trenches and ruffled poet’s blouses – almost straight from the wardrobe of late Visage singer Steve Strange – had guests reaching for their cameras.
Minogue, who looked thrilled, said the show was about how “to break free of the rules and inhabit your true self ... You’re in Paris tonight. You’re in the middle of it all.”
Valentino continued its club couture at Maxime’s with a couture DJ set, as guests were whisked away by limousines to escape the screaming crowds.
‘ELVIS’ NOMINATIONS
When Wintour introduced Luhrmann to Hathaway and other guests, there was a flurry of congratulations about his Elvis biopic that has just garnered eight Oscar nominations, including for best picture.
Luhrmann spoke to the AP of his “pride” – and his humility.
“There’s no ‘me’ in it – only ‘we.’ Then there’s this thing called the miracle of Austin Butler,” he said, referring to the 31-year-old playing Elvis Presley who has received a best actor nomination. “That doesn’t happen every day,” he added.
Luhrmann also spoke of Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis’ daughter, who died earlier this month.
“I really feel for the family. We miss her dearly.”
MODEL TUMBLES
McMenamy tumbled twice in a row, falling to her knees, as she trod the boards at the Valentino venue.
Dressed in an embellished floral bustier gown and pink gloves, the veteran 58-year-old model was helped to her feet on the runway by onlookers – to rousing applause.
McMenamy cast her high heels to the side – landing somewhere near Minogue – and continued on, though her ankle looked injured.