American fashion designer Thom Browne renowned for his avant-garde style made a grand entrance onto the Paris haute couture scene on Monday with a captivating show staged at the iconic opera house. In a move that epitomised Browne's flair for the dramatic, the audience was led through the opera's back entrance, guided up weathered wooden staircases to the opulent runway set in the middle of the stage, with spectators seated on either side, news agency Reuters reported.
As the curtains lifted, the awe-inspiring theater came into view. Rows of red velvet seats and gilded balconies were filled with life-sized cardboard cutouts depicting a man donning a grey suit and sunglasses, according to the report. Slowly but deliberately, models emerged on towering platform shoes, striding past a congregation of fabric-covered pigeons and pausing beneath a colossal grey bell that hung above the set, it said.
Among the striking ensembles on display were dressed in voluminous balloon-like sleeves, tweed outfits paired with intricately embroidered pigeon-adorned coats, and pleated skirts adorned with motifs inspired by the seaside, such as starfish, the report said.
While Browne's signature grey suit remains a trademark of his design repertoire, he has also earned recognition for his theatrical presentations. Last autumn, for instance, he concluded a Cinderella-themed show featuring Mj Rodriguez dancing in a pink tulle-made Cadillac.
The Paris Haute Couture shows, running until July 6, boast an impressive lineup of renowned fashion houses, including Chanel, Balenciaga, and Valentino.
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Thom Browne's foray into the esteemed world of Paris haute couture has certainly left an indelible mark, impressing fashion enthusiasts with his imaginative vision and captivating showmanship. As the week unfolds, the fashion world eagerly anticipates what other marvels will grace the runways of the French capital.