March 4, 2023 |
Gen-Z is taking over Paris fashion week, starting with Harris Reed whose debut at Nina Ricci brought a radical inclusivity to the French catwalks. Paris is a town where skinny still rules (the big question of the week is who is on Ozempic. The answer? Almost everyone). The gorgeous Precious Lee opened the show in a fantasy babydoll concoction, followed by a gender fluid cast of models of all sizes and ages including veteran catwalkers Sibyl Buck and Omahyra Mota. “My Nina…the Nina that’s for everyone,” said the designer on Instagram describing this Paris debut as “a nine year old queer kid’s dream come true.”
Those dreams became a high fashion reality. Reed’s carnival of looks ranged from fierce (floor length coat over sequin bikini) to fantasy (vast cartwheel crinolines and mermaid skirts in amped-up proportions). Reed’s signature seventies trousers suits, as seen on Harry Styles, also played a starring role.
Other houses might be dialling down the theatrics but not Reed, whose clothes command the attention. It’s what’s made him a favourite with fashion forward celebrities like Florence Pugh who wore an orange fishtail Nina Ricci gown to the BAFTAs and Kiernan Shipka who sat in the front row. They know that beige dressing doesn’t get you anywhere these days. If the red carpet is about taking risks then Reed’s the designer to call.
Photography courtesy of Nina Ricci.
