Paris Haute Couture Week opened with high drama and star power as Schiaparelli unveiled its Fall 2025 collection at the Petit Palais. Creative Director Daniel Roseberry delivered an evocative black-and-white palette infused with surrealist codes, sculptural forms, and a modern rejection of rigid corsetry — a bold move rooted in Elsa Schiaparelli’s avant-garde legacy.
But beyond the couture, it was the front row that commanded nearly as much attention as the runway itself.
The show brought together a rare constellation of global pop culture heavyweights. Leading the way was Cardi B, who turned the venue into a theater with her electrifying presence. Dressed in a black velvet gown with exaggerated shoulders, cascading pearl fringe, and a dramatic train, she stunned onlookers — especially when she entered carrying a live crow perched on her hand. The bird, symbolic of transformation and mystery, echoed both Schiaparelli’s surrealist language and the aesthetic of her upcoming album Am I the Drama?
Seated beside her, Dua Lipa wore a crisp white, textured gown with a central cutout, blending bridal elegance with architectural minimalism. Hunter Schafer, always a style innovator, appeared in a mint-green and champagne-toned strapless gown with vertical striped pleating that caught the light as she moved. Completing the pop royal quartet, Karol G made a glamorous entrance despite heavy Paris rain. Dressed in a black mermaid-style gown with a sweeping train, she was flanked by assistants holding umbrellas to protect the dramatic silhouette.
Among the front-row luminaries was also rising Hollywood actor Cooper Koch, who brought understated elegance to the occasion. Known for his performances in independent film and his sharp eye for fashion, Koch wore a tailored Schiaparelli tuxedo in deep midnight blue, accented with a satin shawl collar. His look was elevated by a golden brooch in the shape of a bird, pinned over the heart — a poetic nod to Schiaparelli’s surrealist language and its symbolic use of nature. The avian motif subtly echoed the live crow carried by Cardi B, creating a quiet visual dialogue between two very different interpretations of flight, freedom, and transformation.
Roseberry’s couture collection for Fall 2025 marked a refined shift away from overt theatricality toward sculptural restraint and architectural balance. Structured blazers and fluid draped dresses walked the line between discipline and fantasy, while the black-and-white color story created cinematic tension. Accessories — from golden anatomical busts to optical illusion belts — reminded guests that surrealism remains Schiaparelli’s native tongue, even when whispered.
Photos: Roman Horbun