Fashion Week is a Sport: The Clout Olympics
Tres cool, tres chic et tres chaotique.
The title was inspired by a funny IG post my friend Miguel shared when he landed in Paris. I also overheard someone say “Fashion Holiday,” and it instantly stuck. Somewhere between sipping a spritz in Paris and being surrounded by fashion and art at every turn.
I’ve been thinking about something Vic Mensa said in a clip I really liked—how fashion week is a complex experience. I’ll admit, I sometimes struggle to find meaning in things that can feel surface-level. But then again… clothes hold emotion. The runway can tell a powerful story. There’s thought, history, and politics woven into every look. So that’s where I’m choosing to focus: the intellectual pursuit, the cultural impact, the emotion behind the spectacle.
Mentioned in my notes below: Justin Bieber, Jeleel, Karl Lagerfeld, Lauren Sánchez, Jeff Bezos, Dior, J.W Anderson, A$AP Rocky, Rihanna, Awge, Miu Miu , Kering, Balenciaga, James Harden, LVMH, Willy Chavarria.
Justshein Bieber x Beautiful Struggles
I missed Danny’s party but woke up to chaos: Justin Bieber had apparently performed with Jeleel?? Naturally I ran to lil Bieber’s IG to confirm… radio silence. Then I kept seeing him everywhere online in Paris and thought, damn — The devil works hard but the mandem works harder.
Turns out it wasn’t even him… just a dangerously convincing lookalike. A Tiktok shop Dupe
As someone who works in talent partnerships — do I agree with it? mmmm But from a marketing standpoint? They did a thing.
Jonathan Anderson at LVMH owned Dior
Pretty sure this was the most talked-about show of the week. Not only did it happen just hours before the Bezos–Sánchez wedding extravaganza, but Jonathan actually showed clothes you could… wear …. which wasn’t always the case a Loewe. the clothes were both familiar and new. It’s fair to say that J.W. understands that LVMH is like the government and he delivered.
The press ate it up, and the promo game was insane — over a billion views across socials. They really hit every platform: a teaser vid with Kylian Mbappé, a podcast with Karen Binns, an audiobook based on Christian Dior’s autobiography , and they even dropped extra images to select editors and talents via… Close Friends 💅
AWGENIZATION
Later that night, I went to the AWGE show — my friend and I sprinted there to be on time (9PM call), only to be left outside ‘til 10:30… classic. The venue? A stunning old church, decked out like an airport security checkpoint — which I later realized was referencing Rocky’s courtroom experience. The symbolism was symbolizing.
No AC inside, I was sweating bullets, but from my seat I had a clear view of Rihanna and Riot— effortlessly unbothered in a Miu Miu x Dior look — As my friend Robyn Bone always says: never let them see you sweat.
The show was a full-circle celebration of freedom, Harlem, streetwear, music, and Rocky’s come-up. I loved the Christian Louboutin collab and the fact that it doubled as a listening party, livestreamed exclusively on Apple Music. A moment.
I feel like Rocky ditched the Karl Lagerfeld moodboard and leaned all the way into New York chic streetwear this time. And honestly? I was obsessed with the black sock + loafer moment. So simple, so effective. The perfect blend of feminine and masculine is — très cool, très chic.
Willy Chavarria
Did not come to play. He opened his show with a statement, channeling the rage and heartbreak of the ICE raids that tore through California communities. The models moved like ghosts from detention centers — heads down, knees to the ground — haunting, deliberate, unforgettable.
“This moment was about reflection,” his team said. — a raw look at the way immigrants are still being dehumanized in America.
On a lighter note, I also want to highlight that James Harden walked the show. Worth pressing play.
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10 years of Demna at Balenciaga
I stopped by the Kering campus for the Balenciaga exhibit (10 years of Demna) and… wow. Loved it. I’ve always appreciated Demna’s sense of humor (aside from the child exploitation mishap) and this really delivered.
I want to write more, but I’m holding off until after his final Balenciaga show on Wednesday. In the meantime, you can catch up on my last post about him HERE.
ALSO If you want to peep the chaos, I uploaded my PFW camera roll HERE.
audreymoments in paris :)