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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

The Line Blurs Between Exclusivity and Accessibility

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Couture week in Paris is a reminder that the clothes many people consider to be the most splendid in the world are accessible to only a select few with means and connections. That doesn’t mean the shows are not fun to see.


This year’s events, in late June, were full of thrills, thanks partly to presentations by designers Robert Wun; Nicolas Di Felice, who developed the newest Jean Paul Gaultier couture collection; and Daniel Roseberry of Schiaparelli, whose collection showed off his eye for timeless silhouettes and resplendent details. Another standout was Thom Browne, who used lighter fabrics to create intricate pieces that seemed practical and breathable — two words not often used to describe couture.


Sleek, form-fitting creations in Nicolas Di Felice’s collection for Jean Paul Gaultier during Couture Week in Paris, June 26, 2024. (Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times)
Sleek, form-fitting creations in Nicolas Di Felice’s collection for Jean Paul Gaultier during Couture Week in Paris, June 26, 2024. (Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times)


Outside the shows, the style in the crowds was a mix of formal attire and street wear. Sartorially, it has become harder to tell the difference between fashion superfans (students, bloggers) and industry fixtures (editors, A-listers). The former group, largely because of technology, has greater access to the type of holy-grail clothes that were once primarily the domain of the latter. That might seem at odds with the premise of exclusive events like couture week. But in my opinion, the more people who look fabulous, the better. — NYT


The devil herself: a person dressed as Miranda Priestly, the fictional fashion editor from the movie The Devil Wears Prada, replete with a mock issue of Vogue, outside the Balenciaga show during Couture Week in Paris, June 26, 2024. (Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times)
The devil herself: a person dressed as Miranda Priestly, the fictional fashion editor from the movie The Devil Wears Prada, replete with a mock issue of Vogue, outside the Balenciaga show during Couture Week in Paris, June 26, 2024. (Simbarashe Cha/The New York Times)


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