All The Highlights from Haute Couture A/W 2024-2025
Bazaar Arabia shares a selection of notable moments here…
Despite being tacked onto the end of Men’s Fashion Week thanks to the Summer Olympics’ imminent descent on Paris, the A/W24 Couture season was a memorable moment in this year’s fashion calendar.
As couture often does, it presented a wildly different take on fashion compared to the steady, culturally aware energy of ready-to-wear, ranging from traditionally lavish opulence to bold, avant-garde offerings and sport-inspired pieces, treating us to yet another stunning display of the ateliers’ magic.
Here, Bazaar Arabia shares a selection of highlights from Haute Couture A/W 2024-2025 here.
Mesmerising Shapes at Schiaparelli Autumn/Winter 2024 Haute Couture
Always one of the biggest draws at Haute Couture Week, Schiaparelli opened A/W24 Haute Couture week schedule, with creative director Daniel Roseberry showing a collection that was all about rebirth.
Doja Cat, Kylie Jenner, and Gossip Girl’s Kelly Rutherford looked on as one model took to the catwalk in an inky black cocktail gown finished with a set of carved chrome bird wings, with Daniel taking inspiration in a gown from 1932: a painted dress complemented by an opulent feathered stole. This ensemble was created as a homage to the Dying Swan prima ballerina, Anna Pavlova, who bore a striking resemblance to the designer.
Riyadh Air Debuts its First Uniforms by Ashi Studio
It’s not a collection you would necessarily expect to see at Haute Couture Week. Saudi designer Mohammed Ashi, founder of the Paris-based label Ashi Studio, unveiled the inaugural cabin crew uniforms for the Kingdom’s new airline, Riyadh Air, on the closing day, which are set to make their maiden flight in 2025.
Described as “cabin crew fashion” rather than uniforms, the designer showed ten womenswear and five menswear looks from the collection after his regular haute couture show, comprising timeless cashmere outerwear, elegant dresses and trousers made of fine wools, custom leather footwear, amethyst earrings and pillbox hats, all inspired by 1950s airline fashion.
Charlotte Tilbury and Zuhair Murad create the beauty look of the season
When it comes to beauty, there’s nothing we love more than an exaggerated cat-eye, and at Zuhair Murad celebrity make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury delivered in spades.
The renowned British make-up artist was inspired by an “enigmatic woman who is unpredictable, courageous and free,” resulting in a bold, dramatic winged liner paired with neutral, pared-down skin.
Tempted to try it at home? The get the look, Charlotte initially sketched out the initial shape of the wing, tracing her classic black eyeliner pencil along the lash line starting from the inner corner and bringing it out to the brow, before using the black end of Charlotte’s Hollywood Exagger-Eyes Liner Duo to thicken and intensify it. Finish with the Feline Flick black liquid eyeliner to ensure the end is extra sharp.
Gothic Glamour at Elie Saab Autumn/Winter 2024 Haute Couture
A far cry from his usual feminine and whimsy collections, Elie Saab put a gothic spin on his A/W24 couture collection, showing bodices embroiled in sequined spider webs, pluming necklines and cascading capes.
Sticking to a moody colour palette throughout, the Lebanese couturier sent cloaks and floor-length overcoats down the runway, favouring the likes of crushed velvet, mesh and lace when it came to materials.
As to be expected, he closed the show with a bride, this season a mirage of cream lace and shimmering gold with a distinct fairytale aura.
An A-list FROW at Chanel
Virginie Viard had been known to cultivate relationships with a fair few celebrities during her tenure at Chanel, and many were still out in force at the French fashion house’s latest couture show. Everyone from Naomi Campbell and Greta Gerwig to Keira Knightley descended on the Palais Garnier opera house, with the Fashion Creation Studio driving the collection forward until a new creative director replacement is announced.
Mother-Daughter Duos at Balenciaga Autumn/Winter 2024 Haute Couture
It was hard to peel our eyes away from the fantastical clothing at Demna’s haute couture collection for Balenciaga; the creative director was inspired by permanent components from Cristóbal Balenciaga’s last twenty years including three-quarter length sleeves, cocoon silhouettes, ostentatious millinery and fabric innovation.
We couldn’t help be distracted by the impressive number of mother-and-daughter duos in the crowd. Not only did Nicole Kidman walk in with her lookalike daughter, Sunday Rose Kidman-Urban, she was joined by the likes of Naomi Watts and Kai Schreiber, and Maya Rudolph and Pearl Anderson.
Olympic Fever at Rami Al Ali, Dior and Thom Browne
The Paris Olympics might not kick off until next month, but Syrian designer Rami Al Ali got in on the action early with his latest couture collection. Titled Couture in Motion, the Dubai-based creative infused his iconic pieces with the theme of sport through a collaboration with top athletes in a digital performance, including French high jump champion Nawal Menikir, model Luna Kozaczka who is known for her basketball prowess, runner Olivia Jean Gilles, surfer Maribel Koucke and multiple French Kung Fu champion Simon Baur.
Rami enlisted Christian Lartillot to shoot the presentation on the rooftop of the recently renovated Landscape Tower in the heart of Paris La Défense, with relaxed, candy-coloured dresses and subtle embellishments taking pride of place.
Elsewhere guests entering the Dior tent at the Musée Rodin were greeted by walls covered in 32 mosaic murals of sprinters, surfers and soccer players, recreations of works by the American artist Faith Ringgold, while over at Thom Browne we saw two teams of white skirt-suited men picking up a long braided rope and engaging in a theatrical tug of war.
The result? A collection complete with romantic dresses and accessories. Brazilian-Kiwi beauty Angelina Kendall closed the show in a wedding dress festooned in bows.
Lead image: Zuhair Murad Haute Couture A/W 24/25
