At Hermès, woven leather and quiet confidence set the tone for Paris menswear
PARIS (AP) — While much of Paris Fashion Week chased spectacle, Hermès chose a different path.
On Saturday, artistic director Véronique Nichanian unveiled a Summer 2026 men's collection that spoke in a language of quiet strength, deep craft and calm luxury.
Models walked beneath soaring mirrors in sharply cut jackets, high-waisted woven leather trousers, and sleeveless tops — pieces that fused house tradition with a modern, easy sensuality.
Nichanian's colors were cool and exact: coffee, slate, taupe and beige, each one a lesson in subtlety. There was no shouting here, only precision.
What made the collection powerful was its restraint. Where others go wide, Hermès goes narrow —offering tailored silhouettes and a sense of order when the rest of fashion is busy making noise. Fine leather, featherlight silks, and bandanas with a whisper of fringe reminded the crowd that true luxury is about touch, not flash.
Nichanian's playful touches — zigzag motifs, the wink of an unbuttoned shirt, a glint of silver hardware — kept things human, not stiff. It was a masterclass in how to make classic codes feel new, even radical, simply by refusing to chase trends.
In a season marked by designer shake-ups and economic jitters, Hermès stood alone: confident, focused, and unwilling to compromise. As Nichanian took her bow to cheers, she sent a clear message — at Hermès, luxury is about the pleasure of the wearer, not the applause of the crowd.
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Toronto Sun
10 hours ago
- Toronto Sun
Beyonce and Jay-Z become the main event as Paris crowns celebrity the world's hottest trend
Published Jun 29, 2025 • 4 minute read US rapper Jay-Z (R) and US singer-songwriter Beyonce (C) attend the Louis Vuitton's Menswear Ready-to-wear Spring-Summer 2026 collection fashion show as part of the Paris Fashion Week in Paris, on June 24, 2025. (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT / AFP) (Photo by GEOFFROY VAN DER HASSELT/AFP via Getty Images) Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products are independently selected. Postmedia may earn an affiliate commission from purchases made through links on this page. PARIS (AP) — If any force dominated the global fashion industry this season — eclipsing fabric, form and even the wildest silhouettes — it was the spectacle of celebrity. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account 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 wraps up Sunday, it's clear: Fashion's global audience is focused less on what's worn and more on who's wearing it. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. 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. Beyonce's denim look goes viral The pop star's head-to-toe denim — custom Louis Vuitton by Pharrell Williams — wasn't just viral. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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: 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. '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 weaponized the viral moment — turning celebrity sightings into shoppable trends worldwide, sometimes in a matter of hours. The result: What debuts on the Paris catwalk can show up in online shopping carts from Atlanta to Addis Ababa almost instantly. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 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. 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. 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. Sports Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto Maple Leafs Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press
12 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
‘F1' opens with $55 million, delivering Apple its biggest big-screen hit
NEW YORK (AP) — Apple has its first box-office hit. 'F1 The Movie' debuted with $55.6 million in North American theaters and $144 million globally over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, handing the tech company easily its biggest opening yet. Though Apple Original Films has had some notable successes in its six years in Hollywood — including the 2021 Oscar-winner 'CODA' — its theatrical results have been decidedly mixed. Misfires like 'Argylle' and 'Fly Me to the Moon' and big-budget awards plays like Ridley Scott's 'Napoleon' and Martin Scorsese's 'Killers of the Flower Moon' have been better at driving viewers to Apple TV+ than movie theaters. But 'F1' was Apple's first foray into summer blockbuster territory. It won a bidding war for the project from much of the production team behind the 2022 box-office smash 'Top Gun: Maverick.' Apple then partnered with Warner Bros. to distributed the film starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Kerry Condon. With a production budget over $200 million, 'F1' still has several laps to go to turn a profit. But for now, 'F1' is full speed ahead. ''F1 The Movie' puts the pedal to the metal in an impressive overperformance for this original summer movie that had one of the most comprehensive and exciting marketing blitzes in recent memory and it paid off big for the film,' said Paul Dergarabedian, senior media analyst for data firm Comscore. Car racing movies have often struggled in theaters; crash-and-burn cases include Ron Howard's 'Rush' (2013) and Michael Mann's 'Ferrari' (2023). But 'F1' built off of the Formula 1 fandom stirred up by the popular series 'Formula 1: Drive to Survive.' And it leaned on 'Top Gun: Maverick' director Joseph Kosinski and producer Jerry Bruckheimer to deliver another adult-oriented action thrill ride. Like they did in 'Top Gun: Maverick,' the filmmakers sought an adrenaline rush by placing IMAX cameras inside the cockpit in 'F1.' IMAX and large-format screens accounted for 55% of in its ticket sales. IMAX, whose screens are much sought-after in the summer, has carved out a three-week run for the movie. Reviews have been very good for 'F1' and audience reaction (an 'A' via CinemaScore) was even better. That suggests 'F1' could hold up well in the coming weeks despite some formidable coming competition in Universal Pictures' 'Jurassic World Rebirth.' Universal's 'M3gan 2.0' had been expected to pose a greater challenge to 'F1.' Instead, the robot doll sequel didn't come close to matching the 2022 original's box-office launch. 'M3gan 2.0' collected $10.2 million in 3,112 theaters. Memes and viral videos helped propel the first 'M3gan' to a $30.4 million opening and a total haul of $180 million, all on a $12 million budget. Still, the Blumhouse Productions horror thriller could wind up profitable. The film, written and directed by Gerald Johnstone, cost a modest $25 million to make. A spinoff titled 'Soulm8te' is scheduled for release next year. M3gan 2.0' ended up in fourth place. The box-office leader of the last two weekends, 'How to Train Your Dragon,' slid to second with $19.4 million. The DreamWorks Animation live-action hit from Universal Pictures has surpassed $200 million domestically in three weeks. After a debut that marked a new low for Pixar, the studio's 'Elio' gathered up $10.7 million in sales in its second weekend. That gives the Walt Disney Co. release a disappointing two-week start of $42.2 million. Top 10 movies by domestic box office With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Comscore: 1. 'F1 The Movie,' $55 million. 2. 'How to Train Your Dragon,' $19.4 million. 3. 'Elio,' $10.7 million. 4. 'M3gan 2.0,' $10.2 million. 5. '28 Years Later,' $9.7 million. 6. 'Lilo & Stitch,' $6.9 million. 7. 'Mission: Impossible — Final Reckoning,' $4.2 million. 8. 'Materialists,' $3 million. 9. 'Ballerina,' $2.1 million. 10. 'Karate Kid: Legends,' $1 million.
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Beyoncé and Jay-Z dominate Paris as celebrity drives fashion's biggest trend
PARIS (AP) — If any force swept through the fashion industry this season — and sent shockwaves around the globe — it wasn't a new silhouette or a daring color. It was the spectacle of celebrity. Star power eclipsed fabric and form, transforming the runways of Paris Fashion Week into arenas where A-list icons, K-pop idols, and digital megastars didn't just attend — they became the main event. As the week wraps up Sunday, it's clear: the world is watching not for what's worn, but for who's wearing it. Beyoncé and Jay-Z didn't just attend Louis Vuitton's blockbuster show — they became the story. As they swept into the Pompidou Center, the entire mood shifted. Cameras flashed. Phones shot skyward. Even before the first look hit the runway, images of the couple rocketed around the globe. The scene encapsulated a truth that every major brand — from Louis Vuitton to Dior, Hermès 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. Beyoncé's head-to-toe denim look — a custom Louis Vuitton creation by Pharrell Williams — sparked headlines worldwide and instantly set the tone for the season. Her ensemble, complete with a cowboy hat and Western belt, became one of the most shared images of fashion week, underlining just how quickly a star's wardrobe can ignite trends far beyond the runway. Her Cowboy Carter tour, however, hasn't been without controversy — a T-shirt worn in Paris referencing Buffalo Soldiers drew criticism online this week from some Indigenous and Mexican communities. And when Williams presented her with a Speedy bag straight from the runway, the moment went viral — striking a powerful note that Beyoncé isn't just an attendee, but the face of Louis Vuitton's creative vision. This is the new dynamic of luxury: 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. It's a story that's been told before — celebrity eclipsing fashion — but in a year of global uncertainty, the urge for escapism and the power of star-driven fantasy have reached a new intensity. Show, not just tell: Fashion as spectacle 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: Beyoncé, 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. Beyoncé effect Even the clothes themselves now chase celebrity. Beyoncé'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 Hermès, 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.' It's a process that global platforms like Shein and Temu have weaponized — transforming a viral runway or celebrity moment into affordable, shoppable trends in a matter of days. The result: What debuts on the Paris catwalk 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. The Hermès '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. Weekly A weekly look at what's happening in Winnipeg's arts and entertainment scene. Williams' very appointment as Louis Vuitton's menswear creative director — a chart-topping musician handpicked by LVMH chief Bernard Arnault in 2023 — was itself a statement: In today's industry, celebrity doesn't just influence fashion, it leads it. Everyone's invited now 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 biggest trend in men's fashion isn't a garment at all — it's the show itself. And in a season defined by heat, hype and headlines, it's clear: celebrity is the new couture, and we're all in the front row.
