Lady Gaga's outfit includes embellishments like feathers. The plumes are said to have been collected during the birds' natural moult. Photo: Instagram/Dior
All eyes are currently turned to Paris, as the city hosts the 2024 edition of the Summer Olympics – but not everyone is watching the sporting activities.
For those in the fashion industry, the Olympics this year proves to be an exciting one. It is after all, being held in one of the foremost fashion capitals of the world.
Paris is also the home of luxury fashion houses like Dior, Chanel and Louis Vuitton, which makes it all the more significant style-wise.
The opening ceremony itself drew in scores of celebrities. Cynthis Erivo, Ariana Grande, Chrissy Teigen, John Legend, Kelly Clarkson, Pharrell Williams were seen dressing to impress.
Actress Cynthia Erivo wears Louis Vuitton, while singer Ariana Grande shows off a Thom Browne design. The duo pose for a photo as they arrive for the opening ceremony. Photo: ReutersDuring the performances, fashion played a big role too. Lady Gaga and Celine Dion both wore Dior couture. The designs were custom made to suit each artiste's song choice.
Read more: More athletes are making their mark as the faces of luxury fashion brands
Gaga's ensemble comprised a black satin bustier paired with a cropped jacket and a voluminous feathered skirt in black and pink. She sang Mon Truc En Plume (My Feather Thing) by Zizi Jeanmaire, celebrating the spirit of French cabaret.
Dion stepped out in a white silk gown, which was fully decorated with sequins and fringing. Her rendition of Hymne A L'Amour (Hymn To Love), a song by Edith Piaf, was deemed as incredibly sobering.
Other segments during the opening ceremony showcased emerging fashion designers. The outfits were selected by Daphne Burki, the 2024 Olympics’ stylist and costume director.
For example, the performer delivering the Olympic flag to the official podium located opposite the Eiffel Tower was dressed by Jeanne Friot.
Charles De Vilmorin created looks for more than 150 participants. In one segment of the ceremony, a throuple wore his colourful designs in a tribute to Francois Truffaut’s classic French New Wave film Jules Et Jim.
There are also numerous fashion events that took place (or will be happening) alongside the Paris Olympics.
Vogue magazine and luxury conglomerate LVMH hosted "Prelude To The Olympics" on the eve of the opening ceremony. It brought together a group of artists, including Kaws, JR, Daniel Arsham, Derek Fordjour, Honor Titus and Julia Chiang, to design captivating and dynamic interactive art installations.
Read more: Female Olympians hit the fashion runway in Paris to celebrate gender parity
Another extravaganza gathered some former or current Olympians to celebrate gender parity at the Olympics. They were seen walking a makeshift runway set up in a Paris restaurant.
This year, the International Olympic Committee set a goal of a 50-50 split between male and female athletes. For the first time, women have an equal share with men of an entry quota that's 10,500 athletes across 329 events.
Of course, expectations remain ever high when it comes to the upcoming closing ceremony. While it is rather premature to speculate, fashion lovers are already whispering – all in anticipation of the designers and labels that will take the spotlight come Aug 11.
