Every year there are four major fashion weeks hosted in New York, Paris, London and Milan. Often referred to as the “Big 4,” these fashion industry events provide an opportunity for designers and brands to display their latest collections to the media and potential buyers. With this being said, Paris is home to the first-ever organized fashion week and people travel from all over the world to attend. Paris Fashion Week takes place semiannually and is held in the French capital for seven consecutive days. The most recent events lasted from Sept. 26 to Oct. 4. It is important to note that the event is split into three categories which include menswear, haute couture and ready-to-wear. Only designers that create a minimum of 35 looks per year that are both day and evening wear can be considered for the event. The French Fashion Federation selects very few brands that are eligible for participation each year. In addition, celebrities are often invited to attend, and many make bold and controversial fashion statements.
To begin, rapper and songwriter Kanye West attended Paris Fashion Week to help debut his YZY collection. However, West who prefers to be known as Ye was found wearing an oversized shirt with a photo of Pope John Paul II and the words “eguiremos tu ejemplo” which means “We will follow your example.” Critics argue this was used to exemplify his desire for those to see him as a leader. Fashion week attendees and media outlets focused on the statement that was written on the back of the shirt, “White Lives Matter.” This statement has been linked to white supremacy groups who coined this statement in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. The shirt appeared as part of his collection and was worn by multiple models throughout his surprise showcase. Vogue editor, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson described his behavior as inexcusable, and celebrities such as Jaden Smith and Lynette Nylander exited the show as they began to see the message spread across the articles of clothing.
While Kanye West continues to fill headlines for media outlets, other celebrities and artists turned heads with their event looks. Doja Cat arrived in bold makeup and a black strappy top that wrapped around her torso and created cutouts across her body. She used blue and white face paint which made her stand out in the crowd and painted her arms black to create the illusion of gloves.
While celebrities made their debut for fans and paparazzi, popular hairstyles were viewed across the runways during Paris Fashion Week. Chanel produced elegant and effortless ponytails as they showed off their metallic hairclips. At the Vivienne Westwood show, models walked the runway with wet-look hair that was wet and soaked with gel. With regard to cosmetics, Givenchy highlighted the popular trend of bleach eyebrows on several of the models in the showcase. As fall approached, multiple dark lips were presented throughout the event by both models and attendees.
Overall, Paris Fashion Week 2022 was a significant success despite the controversial actions of celebrities that the media reported. An invitation may be hard to secure, but for those who attend it is the chance to make a fashion statement or show off a new makeup look.
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