When the heatwave is over and the haute Chanel bows have been appropriated by the high street, what will Paris Couture FW24 be remembered for?
With the city in the midst of heavy construction ahead of the Olympics, it’s fair to say the French were feeling a soupçon stressé, but this was nothing that a game of celebrity front-row spotting couldn’t solve. Even Miranda Priestly, who stopped by Demna’s show to see whether the devil really does wear Balenciaga, was down for a healthy game of couture theatrics. Here, the biggest talking points from the most recent round of couture shows.
Bows abounded, but there was no literal bow for Virginie Viard
Photo: Acielle / Style Du Monde
The rumour mill has been having a jolly old time of it lately, but it was wrong in its suggestion that Virginie Viard might take a final bow at Chanel before truly closing the door on the house that has been the designer’s home for almost three decades. Show notes detailed a new dawn at the brand, with the Fashion Creation Studio driving the collections forward while a new, as yet unidentified, creative director signs on the dotted line. The autumn/winter 2024 couture season subsequently played it safe by doubling down on the classics that keep business booming, while sweet entry-point accessories, such as bows, will keep the non-couture clients interested. A new venue in the Palais Garnier (the Grand Palais is being prepped for the Olympic fencing) ushered in this new in-between era, with a handful of dramatic satin opera coats to keep editors who need to fill column inches happy.
Angelina Kendall won the season
Photo: Acielle / Style Du Monde
There’s nothing quite like booking the Chanel bride slot to cement your status as a supermodel in the making. Brazilian-Kiwi beauty Angelina Kendall, who was discovered on Instagram in 2021 and has already covered Vogue Italia, wore a Princess Diana-adjacent wedding gown to close out the show – no mean feat in the…
