Let’s take a walk down the memory lane!
١. Chanel Spring/Summer 2012
Chanel Spring/Summer 2012 Haute Couture show took place during Paris Fashion Week at the Grand Palais, with a distinct aeroplane cabin setting created by Karl Lagerfeld. Turning heads with its one-of-a-kind setting, Chanel offered branded seats lined up in rows alongside aeroplane windows, creating the backdrop for Lagerfeld’s fusion of traditional Chanel designs with aviation-inspired details. This creative background showcased Lagerfeld’s vision and brought a touch of luxury and adventure to the collection’s theme.
٢. Iris Van Herpen Spring/Summer 2018
The Iris Van Herpen Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2018 runway set was a breathtaking display of artistry and innovation, showcasing the designer’s fascination with merging fashion and technology. Featuring the stunning 3D-printed installation “Ludi Naturae,” which resembled a living organism with curved shapes and organic textures, the set created an otherworldly environment along the runway. Models adorned van Herpen’s couture creations, which echoed themes of nature and technology through intricate laser-cut designs, biomimetic textures, and innovative materials. This avant-garde presentation illustrated van Herpen’s ability to blur the lines between fashion, art, and science, challenging perceptions of couture’s design and conceptual boundaries at Paris Couture Week.
٣. Valentino Spring/Summer 2023
Pierpaolo Piccioli’s work with Valentino for Paris Fashion Week ’23 was a poetic masterpiece set amongst a castle that turns his artistry into a fairy tale filled with beauty, uniqueness, freedom, playfulness, and haute couture. Titled L’Ecole, meant “to highlight the body, in a celebration of femininity and humanity, encapsulating comfort in one’s skin” for the 2023/2024 season, Valentino showcased its couture collection at the Château de Chantilly, a historic and magnificent location. The gardens and waterways became runways for draped dresses, jeans, silk suits, oversized crystal earrings, and bright colours, presenting a new vision of elegant extravagance.
٤. Thome Browne Fall/Winter 2023-24
Thom Browne’s Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023/2024 show at Paris Fashion Week featured a gothic, surrealist set with nautical elements like anchors and ropes, reflecting the collection’s maritime inspiration. A large clock at the runway’s end symbolized the journey theme, while dramatic lighting highlighted the intricate textures of the garments. Adding to the spectacle, the set included a fake audience, enhancing the theatrical and immersive atmosphere of the show. This unique setting underscored Thom Browne’s distinctive narrative blending steampunk, Americana, and gothic influences.
٥. Thierry Mugler Fall 1995
The Thierry Mugler Fall 1995 show at Cirque d’Hiver in Paris marked the fashion house’s 20th anniversary with a spectacular “Woodstock of Fashion.” The runway was a dramatic scene with fake snow and confetti, complemented by a live performance from James Brown and male go-go dancers. Over 300 looks were showcased in just one hour, featuring models like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss in iconic outfits such as a bronze-medal breastplate and a button-adorned black cape. Smoke effects and dramatic lighting added to the immersive experience, while the audience, including high-profile guests and drag queens, celebrated Mugler’s unique blend of fashion and theatre.
