As the sun dipped below the Parisian skyline, the models of Schiaparelli's Fall-Winter 2024 Ready-to-Wear collection emerged onto the historic Place Vendôme, fresh from a groundbreaking runway show that had redefined the brand's direction. The lingering warmth of the day gave way to a subtle autumn chill, echoing the collection's transition to a more grounded elegance. Despite the cooling air, the models were in high spirits. In a note reviewed by Rain, "They wanted to keep laughing and playing, and strut some more.” This exuberance perfectly captured the mood of the collection, blending high fashion with a sense of joyful wearability."
Daniel Roseberry, Schiaparelli's Creative Director, had taken a bold new approach this season. "For the past few years the word visibility has come up," Roseberry explained to Vogue during a preview in the Schiaparelli salons. Having achieved runway coups and front-row celebrity moments that rivaled larger, better-known competitors, Roseberry explained that he was now pursuing a different goal: adding what he called "a layer of legitimacy" to the way people think about the house."
This new direction was evident as the impromptu photoshoot unfolded under the artistic lens of Johnny Dufort. The iconic square became an open-air studio, with models showcasing pieces that blended Schiaparelli's surrealist spirit with a newfound practicality. A model in a dazzling floor-length gown posed before the Vendôme column, embodying the collection's bold elegance and surrealist flair. The dress features a sinuous beige silhouette dramatically carved into a black sequined background, creating an optical illusion of a curving female form. With its long sleeves, high neckline, and body-hugging fit, the gown represents a continuation of Schiaparelli's penchant for dramatic, eye-catching silhouettes, while adding a new dimension of wearable glamour to the ready-to-wear line.
As the night progressed, Dufort's camera captured the juxtaposition of Roseberry's avant-garde designs against the classical grandeur of Place Vendôme. A figure appeared at the windows of 21 Place Vendôme, Schiaparelli's storied maison, clutching the house's signature Anatomy bag. This unexpected apparition, framed by Shocking pink flowers, perfectly encapsulated the brand's balance between whimsy and wearability.
The photoshoot highlighted key pieces from the collection, showcasing Roseberry's vision for wearable yet distinctive ready-to-wear. The olive green coat worn by the model epitomizes Roseberry's vision, its dramatically oversized sleeves creating a bold silhouette that balances avant-garde design with versatile appeal. The burnished orange structured handbag, suspended from a gold chain strap, adds a vibrant accent that showcases Schiaparelli's mastery of accessories. These pieces, complemented by statement sunglasses and caramel leather ankle boots, exemplify Roseberry's skill in merging high fashion concepts with practical ready-to-wear.
Set against a backdrop of surrealist-inspired golden vases and sculptural elements, the overall look embodies Schiaparelli's evolution – infusing its legendary artistic heritage into accessible yet striking everyday pieces. This tableau vividly illustrates the house's new direction: bringing runway drama to the realm of wearable art.
As the impromptu spectacle in and around Place Vendôme drew to a close, Schiaparelli's ready-to-wear renaissance carried an air of unmistakable Parisian charm. Dufort's nocturnal captures crystallized the Fall-Winter 2024 Ready-to-Wear collection as an eccentric tale—where the house's avant-garde legacy emerges with a fresh ethos of wearable extravagance.
Dufort's artful lens and Roseberry's ingenious vision coalesced, reaffirming Schiaparelli's legacy in blending fashion, art, and functionality. This intimate glimpse into the collection set alight a new era for the maison, deftly weaving surrealist whimsy into wearable statements and marking a bold chapter where extraordinary design and everyday elegance coexist.
