Real Crazy Rich Asians fill Paris haute couture shows; Meghan Markle’s wedding dress designer impresses with menswear looks
A bunch of wealthy Asian women, along with the author of the popular book series, were among the front-row faces at the Dior, Giambattista Valli and Elie Saab shows. Menswear was still the talk of Paris, as newcomers led the way
The men’s shows may have come and gone, but menswear was still the talk of the town at the haute couture shows in Paris – and not only because Clare Waight Keller, the British designer behind Meghan Markle’s wedding dress, showed a smattering of men’s looks in her second couture collection for Givenchy.
The two blockbuster men’s shows of spring-summer 2019 – Virgil Abloh’s debut at Louis Vuitton and Kim Jones’ debut at Dior – still reverberated two weeks after their unveiling, with many front-row regulars wondering whether the two designers may soon start making womenswear. After all, they’ve already dressed high-profile female friends such as Kim Kardashian and Kate Moss in custom creations.
Kevin Kwan “puttin’ on the Ritz” for some crazy-rich Asians in Paris
Rumours aside, this couture week – much like the Fifa World Cup unfolding in Russia – felt like the season of the underdogs. Household names such as Chanel, Dior and Armani never fail to deliver impeccably made collections that rarely disappoint their loyal clients, but it was the relative newcomers that made an impact.
These designers, including the aforementioned Waight Keller, whose profile has risen since designing the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding dress, and Giambattista Valli, who’s a seasoned dressmaker but has been showing couture for less than a decade, spoke to a younger clientele and are making couture relevant for a new generation of clients.
Among the glamorous faces gracing the front rows, we couldn’t help but notice a bunch of wealthy Asian women who made the rounds at Dior, Giambattista Valli, Elie Saab and various glamorous events accompanied by Kevin Kwan, the author of Crazy Rich Asians.