Coperni blends gaming culture with high fashion in a groundbreaking LAN party-themed runway show for FW25.
By Jesse Scott
Coperni continued to lead the vanguard of contemporary fashion for FW25, launching a dramatic collection at Paris's Adidas Arena. The show was based on a LAN (local area network) party. Rather than filing onto a traditional runway, guests enjoyed hot dogs and popcorn on a stadium concourse before descending into a space filled with gamers intently competing on a sprawling bank of computers. Founders Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant re-defined geek chic, synthesizing glamour and comfort for a distinctive, effortless collection.
A star-studded cast of models, including Lila Moss (Look 32), strutted looks that encapsulated careless cool while connecting guests to the heritage of the brand. Meyer describes himself as a geek, and this collection allowed us to understand the nuanced gamer influences that inform his now-iconic style.
What is a LAN Party Anyway?
Ice Spice, Gabriela Rodriguez, Chloe Lecareux, and Bella Thorne were among the celebrities in attendance at Fashion Week's biggest LAN party. For those of us that did not grow up gaming, the show served as an introduction to a rich subculture born in the 1990s then revitalized in many different iterations. LAN gaming was sparked by slow internet speed during the early era of computers; the young generation of the time circumnavigated glitches by linking with their local area network and competing online from the same location (generally in someone's basement).
"Tomb Raider" character Lara Croft and the protagonists of iconic manga Sailor Moon were referenced throughout a nuanced collection that combined romantic nostalgia with modern silhouettes. Leather, knits, and denim danced together in the cavernous space as models transported guests into an exclusive simulation while weaving through a labyrinthine sea of gamers.
Diverse Collection Carries Subtle Sophistication
LAN gamer culture is defined by casual cool, a spirit epitomized by a sleek collection that seemed deliberately, exquisitely careless. The first look, an impeccably cut floor-length black dress, represented feminine simplicity with deceptive complexity. Later on, sleek asymmetrical jackets (Looks 11, 12) and strikingly nostalgic blazers (Look 17) captured the particular savoir faire of those who inspire mainstream trends by openly rejecting the mainstream.
The reserved color palette, dominated by shades of black, gray, and white, was curated so as to exude both generation-transcendent elegance and unintentional sex appeal. Meanwhile, the material choice, always luxurious but approachable within the overall aesthetic, conversed with a new generation of luxury gamers currently defining their own sub-communities.
The collection was diverse yet cohesive. One of the most red carpet-ready looks, a beautifully tailored dress with a serpentine motif tracing around the neck (Look 37), was balanced by casual looks defined by form-fitting turtlenecks, graceful yet sculptural coats, and covetous bags (Looks 10, 15). The FW25 Coperni girl is unapologetic for her lifestyle, secure in the fact that she can host an all-night gaming session while remaining an undisputed "it girl" who can guide her guests to the hottest after-parties.
Coperni continued a long-running paradigm by providing some of the most iconic moments of this fashion season. While guests may not have arrived at Adidas Arena as gamers, they left as a united community bonded by a shared fantasy of effortless elegance and exclusive inclusivity. With playful imagination and distinctive creativity, Coperni curated a delightful collection rooted in a carefree attitude and poignant cool. Once again, the innovative brand is emblematic of Parisian fashion.
