If there's anyone who's perfect for a runway finale, it's Gigi Hadid. As Paris Fashion Week Spring 2025 Menswear came to a close, the model posed in the city's iconic Place Vendôme as the last face of Vogue World's 2024 show. Marking her first time at the event and the second appearance of the evening after riding horses with Kendall Jenner dressed in head-to-toe Hermes. The designer tasked with creating Hadid's closing ensemble? None other than Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing.
Since the show celebrated the last 100 years of fashion with a focus on French designers and its intersection with sports, it was only fitting that Rousteing drew inspiration from his home country. The jaw-dropping look served as a brilliant fusion of the free-spirited creativity of the show with the city's luxe factor, including an extravagant blue skirt and a gold metal-like top that called for a slew of artisanal ateliers.
"I wanted the color to recall the blue of the French flag, that electric blue is also a part of the house and our DNA," explains the designer. "From there, you'll notice the draped gold bustier. Armor-like in its construction, the bustier is inspired by the Marianne de France, which is a symbol of strength from the French Revolution. Beyond that, the gold represents strength and, of course, timelessness. It is also gold that surrounds our incredible City of Light."
The monumental moment not only speaks to the richness of French culture, but also Rousteing's African heritage. His place as the designer to represent the face of France at such a distinguished event holds great significance, which he considers an honor. "I am from Bordeaux in the South of France, but I was adopted, with origins in Ethiopia and Somalia," he says. "I was born and raised in France, but I have these African roots and it's an honor to show that side of French culture."
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