Paris' couture fashion week, which is occurring against the backdrop of five days of violence in the city, was inaugurated by celebrities and designers.
Among those in the French capital are American rapper Cardi B, singer Camila Cabello, and actress Maisie Williams.
However, there is some unease regarding the extravagant displays of materialism for the super-rich after serious civil unrest.
Others claimed the fashionistas were "tone deaf," while others said catwalk shows and cocktail parties should be canceled.
"These heavily scented, diamond-encrusted, removed-from-every-reality clients can seem weird even in normal times, but this week, they seem almost surreally tone deaf," The Telegraph's fashion editor Lisa Armstrong wrote. ".
It was "quite odd to see how the big French brands haven't acknowledged what's going at all in their own country," the attendee said, adding that this was something that stood out to her.
The fatal shooting of teenager Nahel M during a police traffic stop sparked the unrest in Paris and other French cities, but by Monday, it seemed to have died down.
Monday saw the debut of the haute couture collections, the most exclusive division of the fashion industry where dresses are made to order for exorbitant prices.
Only one major label, Celine, cancelled a show entirely due to the riots, though some brands, like Chloe, did postpone parties over the weekend.
Its menswear presentation on Sunday wasn't scheduled as part of fashion week, but it was rumored to have included live music performances as a representation of French youth culture.
"A fashion show in Paris, while France and its capital are bereaved and bruised, seems... inconsiderate and totally misplaced," the designer Hedi Slimane wrote on Instagram.
Others disregarded worries and continued with Monday's shows at Christian Dior, Schiaparelli, and Iris Van Herpen, which were all inspired by mermaids, fine art, and Greek goddesses.
The fact that they are moving forward without being bothered by turbulence in less affluent parts of the city, according to Jess Cartner-Morley of The Guardian, "is perhaps a reflection of the polarization that underpins the situation in France.". ".
Some influencers were acting as though the protests had "mildly inconvenienced" them, EJ Dickson of Rolling Stone magazine added.
Cardi B traveled to Paris to see Schiaparelli's haute couture fall/winter 2023–2024 fashion collection on display.
The actress praised the program as "beautiful" while sharing a photo of her outfit on Instagram. She later remarked to Vogue, "What's new? They always have an amazing show. "I'm always surprised by it. ".
In the meantime, Dior displayed its most recent collection, which was inspired by the classical era, in the garden of the Musée Rodin. The collection featured beige, gold, and cream hues and fabrics, as well as straightforward "ancient garments" like tunics and capes.
Such items were "not only for the red carpet," according to the brand's creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri, but rather were made to help people "build a wardrobe.".
In front of a crowd that included Cabello and Williams, Dutch designer Van Herpen presented an aquatic and futuristic collection. Her designs are a staple of red carpets and are worn by Beyonce on her Renaissance tour.
Along with rapper Kendrick Lamar, directors George Lucas and Baz Luhrmann, actresses Margaret Qualley, Lupita Nyong'o, and Jenna Coleman were among the celebrities at the Chanel show on the banks of the Seine on Tuesday.
US designer Thom Browne and 26-year-old Charles de Vilmorin, who presented his own brand after serving for a brief period as Rochas' artistic director, made their couture debuts on Monday.
The Frenchman told AFP: "I'm ecstatic to have made it through everything and to perform my first show.
. "
