Cher and Alexander Edwards are seen before Givenchy Spring/Summer 2024 show during Paris Fashion Week. Photo: Reuters
The cobbles of the historic Ecole Militaire echoed with the buzz of admiration, as Cher, 77, made her way into the Givenchy show.
The sight of the music legend, accompanied by her boyfriend AE Edwards, 37, incited a fervent commotion of screams and cheers from fans, an ode to her enduring influence.
"I love Paris! I met my boyfriend here last year, so it’s our anniversary,” she said from the front row smiling, with a youthful allure.
Amid the overwhelming show of affection in Paris – after attending Balmain's show Wednesday night, she candidly revealed her surprise: "Of course I’m happy, but I wasn’t expecting it.”
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Discussing her music, Cher shared a touch of sincerity – and deadpan humour.
She said she was "excited” about the upcoming release of a Christmas album.
"I’m not a Cher fan!” she joked, adding, ”It is not your mother’s Christmas album.”
Intimacy meets modernity
Another season, another change in aesthetic at Givenchy. In a marked departure from previous displays, Matthew Williams’ latest show – a skillful display – delved into the intimate.
It invited the viewer closer, with every fabric, cut, and colour choice.
Skirts and dresses, asymmetrical in their design, fluttered diaphanously, balancing between revelation and concealment.
Flowers played a subtle role amid delicate patterns and motifs. Lace made a reappearance, enhancing some outfits with a vintage allure.
Particularly innovative were garments that appeared to merge half-hidden jewellery inside.
Moreover, the ancient technique of treating silk added depth and texture to a few pieces, fusing past and present.
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Yet, the essence of intimacy didn’t stop there. It extended to even the finest details, notably heels covered in a silken suspender fabric in a fashion forward spin.
This design playfulness was further heightened by bands encircling the bust and arm, suggesting an imprisonment of the model within her attire.
The colour palette was soft, with pastels taking center stage. Yellows, blues, whites, beiges, and browns sometimes intersected in intentional clashes, creating a palpable tension throughout.
Highlights included broad-shouldered coats, especially one in a striking shade of yellow.
The craftsmanship was evident in the construction of broad, boxy charcoal coats, a testament to Givenchy’s couture atelier.
However, the varying nature of Williams’ recent displays raises questions about the Givenchy brand identity, and what its aesthetic represents. – AP
