The runway got wild at the Schiaparelli Paris Couture Week 2023 show

Schiaparelli’s spring 2023 showcase kicked off Paris Couture Week with a roaring bang and has already been labeled as the fashion show of the season. Some of the world’s most renowned supermodels walked the runway, including Naomi Campbell and Irina Shayk.

Gorgeous models strutted the runway, each flaunting captivating looks from Schiaparelli’s spring showcase, drawing on obvious inspiration from wild animals.

 

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The Collection

According to designer Daniel Roseberry, the theme of the Schiaparelli show was inspired by the 14th-century narrative poem and Italian poet Dante Alighieri, and his literary masterpiece, Inferno.

Schiaparelli adapted life-size figures of animal heads onto couture gowns.

Daniel says:

“The leopard, the lion, and the she-wolf—representing lust, pride, and avarice…”

From peacocks and snakes to lions and tigers, the collection offered a take on wildlife couture. Roseberry made it very clear that no animals were hurt in the making of these garments. Designs were hand sculpted from foam, resin, wool, and silk faux fur, then hand-painted to “look as life-like as possible.”

Elegant statement evening gowns in base palettes of black and white hues graced the runway, and the collection was punctuated with accents of gold, bronze, emerald green, beige, and copper. There were exaggerated and oversized silhouettes that dominated the runway with gold statuesque heads and bronze-folded body accessories.

Trophies or Haute Couture?

Reviews from the show have been divided.

On the one hand, fashion enthusiasts are loving Schiaparelli’s collection, but social media and animal activists were not too impressed, even though everything was fake.

Many viewers found the show to be constricting on animal rights, suggesting that the collection only further validates the use of animals and their skins as “trophies,” regardless of what its actual message might be.

What do you think?

A-list celebrity Kylie Jenner was seen in attendance wearing the brand’s soon-to-be viral lion head gown, and Doja Cat arrived in a head-to-toe red ensemble.

If this was the first couture show to kick off the season, we’re in for a wild ride.

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Featured Image: Instagram / @schiaparelli/Instagram