Demna to bow out at Balenciaga with farewell Paris fashion show
Demna, known for his daring work as well as controversies during his stint at Kering-owned Balenciaga, will unveil his final collection on Wednesday at what is likely to be a star-studded show.
The 44-year-old, acclaimed by millennials and Gen-Z stars from Kim Kardashian to British pop sensation Charli XCX, will begin his new task of reviving the flagging fortunes of Gucci from Thursday.
The man behind a $2,000 'Ikea' bag and a $1,800 so-called 'trash pouch', as well as a much-criticised advertising campaign that appeared to reference child abuse, is not seen as a natural fit for the more classical Gucci label by some analysts.
Shares in luxury conglomerate Kering, which owns Balenciaga and Gucci, fell around 12 percent on the day of the announcement of his promotion in March and have sunk further since.
'His creative power is exactly what Gucci needs,' Kering CEO Francois-Henri Pinault said at the time.
Other more established and mainstream designers from Hedi Slimane, Maria Grazia Chiuri or Pierpaolo Piccioli had been linked to the vacancy.
After Demna's farewell at midday in Paris (1000 GMT), Belgian designer Glenn Martens will find himself in the spotlight when he unveils a first collection for Maison Margiela, following his appointment in January to succeed British designer John Galliano.
Martens has big shoes to fill, with the house's last couture show under eccentric showman Galliano in January 2024 considered a huge success by critics.
The day will also see new collections unveiled by the Dutch duo Viktor & Rolf, Hong Kong's Robert Wun, French designer Franck Sorbier, Japan's Yuima Nakazato and the Lebanese designers Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab.
Tuesday saw a final show by Chanel under its in-house design studio, the fifth since former chief creative Virginie Viard's sudden departure in June 2024.
The collection featured a play-it-safe reinterpretation of its classic tweed looks in front of A-listers from Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Kirsten Dunst to singers Lorde and Gracie Abrams.
Newly installed chief creative Matthieu Blazy, a discreet and highly respected Franco-Belgian designer, will showcase his first ready-to-wear collection for Chanel in October in what will be one of the biggest events of the fashion calendar this year.
Haute Couture Week is dedicated to handcrafted, one-of-a-kind creations bought by celebrities and VIPs for red carpets, galas and other high-profile events. – AFP
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
Fashion bros: Male celebrities flaunt their style at the latest menswear weeks
Hael Husaini is a regular at the international menswear shows, and with each appearance, he brings added prominence to Malaysia on the global fashion map. Photo: Dolce & Gabbana The menswear shows this time around may be less hyped, but they still drew male stars from around the world. Pitti Uomo in Florence kicked off last week, followed by Milan Fashion Week Men's over the weekend. Currently taking place is Paris, with shows running until June 29. While the buzz may not match the drama of the womenswear season, there is still plenty of style inspiration on offer – from the runway to the front row. Read more: Step up, guys! Let these stylish celebrities inspire your shoe game At Pitti Uomo, tailored classics were reimagined with youthful flair while Milan served up bold statements and directional streetwear. The energy across all the shows was more refined than frenzied, yet the looks worn by celebrities gave an impact. Malaysian artiste Hael Husaini was spotted attending several runway events. He brought a sense of boldness to the menswear circuit, opting for monochromatic tailoring and statement fabrics. His presence added regional star power to the global fashion stage, proving that style transcends borders. Thai rapper BamBam, plus South Korean celebrities like Kim Woo-bin and Jinyoung also drew eyes with their impeccable dressing. Brazilian actor Andre Lamoglia, along with British talents Harris Dickinson and Will Poulter, added to the celebrity presence, each bringing their own spin on contemporary style – from effortless suiting to playful, fashion-forward ensembles. Despite the growing prominence of male fashion, the menswear shows have been lagging behind their womenswear counterparts in terms of cultural buzz and mainstream visibility. Read more: Cowboy, but make it fashion: Beyonce's tour looks blend country and couture Even in Milan, traditionally a stronghold for men's fashion, the lineup took a hit – with major names like Gucci, Fendi and Zegna sitting out this season. Several other brands also opted out of staging full-scale runway productions. Instead, a curated selection of guests were treated to more intimate presentations, showroom appointments or digital lookbooks. This signals a shift towards quieter, more considered ways of showing collections in an increasingly saturated calendar. The male celebrities that appeared at the fashion weeks, though, still managed to generate significant attention – proving that star power continues to be a driving force in keeping menswear in the spotlight.
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
'It's about celebrity clickbait': Beyonce steals the show at Paris Fashion Week
If any force dominated the global fashion industry this season – eclipsing fabric, form and even the wildest silhouettes, it was the spectacle of celebrity. In a year marked by global anxiety and a hunger for fantasy, star power flooded Paris Fashion Week, turning runways into gladiator arenas where A-list icons, K-pop idols and digital megastars became the main event. Beyonce and Jay-Z didn't just attend Louis Vuitton's blockbuster show – they became the show. As they swept into the Pompidou Center, cameras flashed and phones shot skyward. Before the first look even hit the runway, images of the couple ricocheted across the globe. K-pop idols like J-Hope and Jackson Wang livestreamed their arrival to millions, while crowds outside flooded social feeds with every glimpse of a star. As the industry's spring season wraped up Sunday (June 29), it's clear: Fashion's global audience is focused less on what's worn and more on who's wearing it. This interplay between celebrity and fashion is hardly new, but in 2025, the desire for escapism and star-driven spectacle is peaking like never before. "It's about celebrity clickbait, and it's at a tipping point now. Celebrities have replaced the designers and stylists as the tastemakers,' said Anna Barr, a fashion magazine editor who attended shows. Read more: Fashion bros: Male celebrities flaunt their style at the latest menswear weeks Beyonce's appearance this week encapsulated a truth that every major brand – from Louis Vuitton to Dior, Hermes to Saint Laurent – now understands. The real front row isn't in Paris, but on Instagram, TikTok and Weibo. And nothing sells quite like a star. The pop star's head-to-toe denim – custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams – wasn't just viral. Within 24 hours, clips of her arrival amassed millions of views on TikTok, outpacing even Louis Vuitton's own campaign content. When Williams presented her with a Speedy bag straight from the runway in the Paris dusk, the moment went viral – underlining that Beyonce isn't just an attendee, but a face of Louis Vuitton's creative vision. But even as Beyonce's look became the week's most shared image, her presence in Paris also sparked debate. A Buffalo Soldiers T-shirt she wore during her "Cowboy Carter' tour ignited criticism from some Indigenous and Mexican communities, reminding the industry that every viral moment can be a flash point. This is the new dynamic of luxury – where the most coveted runway seat is now in your hand, and what matters most isn't just what you see, but who you see wearing it. What once was a private preview for buyers and editors is now a worldwide entertainment event. Designers don't just stage shows – they produce spectacles. Williams, Louis Vuitton's showman-in-chief, turned his runway into a snakes-and-ladders fantasy with a guest list to match: Beyonce; Jay-Z; K-pop royalty J-Hope and Jackson Wang; reggaeton star Karol G; and Hollywood names like Bradley Cooper and Mason Thames. Each arrival triggered waves of posts and stories – making the crowd as newsworthy as the collection itself. The modern runway has become a stage for celebrity, where the applause is measured in views and viral moments, and the line between performer and spectator disappears. No other force is shifting menswear trends faster than K-pop. This season, stars like J-Hope, Jackson Wang, GOT7's Bambam and NCT's Yuta were everywhere, livestreaming shows and igniting fashion frenzies from Seoul to Sao Paulo. These idols are both tastemakers and trend translators, instantly transmitting what they see in Paris to millions of fans. Their attendance has become a commercial event in itself, driving the adoption of new styles on a global scale. Even the clothes themselves now chase celebrity. Beyonce's Cowboy Carter moment and Louis Vuitton's nod to Western style sent cowboy hats, flared denim, and rhinestone shirts trending worldwide. Brands scramble to turn these viral moments into wearable trends – knowing that what Queen Bey wears in Paris will be copied in malls and on apps within weeks. "We make fashion, but we're a house of travel,' Williams told reporters. In truth, it's the celebrity's journey through fashion that matters most. The old fashion cycle is gone. It's been said before. Where trends once took months to trickle down, now a celebrity-worn look can reach the high street soon after the show lights dim. TikTok and fast fashion brands move at the speed of the repost. At Hermes, even the discreet luxury of woven leather tees and wide trousers took on new meaning as athletes and music stars documented their attendance. Their posts quickly turn exclusive details into mass-market "must-haves'. Shein and Temu, the global fast-fashion juggernauts, have weaponised the viral moment – turning celebrity sightings into shoppable trends worldwide, sometimes in a matter of hours. The result: what debuts on the Paris runway can show up in online shopping carts from Atlanta to Addis Ababa almost instantly. Beneath the celebrity glow, classic trends endure. Streetwear is still king, with oversized silhouettes, soft tailoring and activewear influences everywhere from Dior to Dolce & Gabbana. Read more: Cowboy, but make it fashion: Beyonce's tour looks blend country and couture The Hermes "cool city guy' and Dolce's pajama dressing – rumpled but rich – are direct answers to how men want to live and move now. But even these trends go mainstream through star power, not just design. The models might debut the look, but it's the front-row faces who make it stick. The celebrity ascendancy isn't just a front-row phenomenon – it's woven into the industry itself. When LVMH's Bernard Arnault tapped Williams, a global pop icon, to lead Louis Vuitton menswear in 2023, it wasn't just a creative risk. It was a declaration that celebrity now runs the show. All this spectacle reflects a bigger shift. Fashion isn't just about what's in – it's about who's in the room, and who's watching. At Armani in Milan, at Saint Laurent in Paris, at every show, a galaxy of K-pop, Hollywood, and music stars now drive the narrative. For Gen Z and Alpha, the runway is no longer about aspiration – it's about participation, sharing, and living in the moment. The "show' has become the product. In 2025, the hottest look in men's fashion isn't a garment – it's the spectacle. In the world's most-watched runway season, celebrity is the new couture, and every scroll puts you in the front row. – AP
The Star
19 hours ago
- The Star
Michelle Yeoh and other stars light up Demna's final Balenciaga runway show
Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh poses on the street upon arrival for the Autumn/Winter 2025 Balenciaga couture show. Photo: Instagram/Michelle Yeoh Tan Sri Michelle Yeoh was among the A-list stars who lit up Demna's (Demna Gvasalia) final show for Balenciaga, marking the end of an era for the Georgian designer who redefined the house with his disruptive, often polarising vision. Held in a sleek, minimalist space in Paris, the show drew a powerful crowd, from fashion insiders to global celebrities, all gathered to witness a milestone moment in contemporary fashion. Demna's final collection was a retrospective of his provocative yet emotionally charged style – oversized tailoring, subversive silhouettes, and a raw, intimate energy that has both challenged and reshaped luxury fashion. While his tenure at Balenciaga hasn't been without controversy, it's clear his impact will resonate long after his departure. Other celebrities at Demna's final Balenciaga show included Katy Perry, Cardi B, Nicole Kidman, PP Krit and more. Naomi Campbell and Kim Kardashian were seen walking the runway. Read more: 2025 Oscars fashion: Michelle Yeoh in striking blue, Blackpink's Lisa suits up Yeoh has long been celebrated for her groundbreaking roles in international cinema, from her early days in Hong Kong action films to becoming a Bond girl, and her historic Oscar win for Everything Everywhere All At Once . But beyond her screen presence, Yeoh has quietly become a fashion force, regularly seen on the front rows of major fashion weeks and gracing campaigns and red carpets in couture from the world's top designers. With her poise, elegance, and fearless style choices, the Malaysian star has cemented her status not just as a cinematic icon, but as a global fashion muse whose influence spans both industries. For fashion-watchers and proud Malaysians alike, the moment was a reminder of how style, celebrity and identity intersect on the most global of stages.
