delna poonawalla paris fashion week© Hello

Inside Paris Fashion Week With Delna Poonawalla

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Delna Poonawalla

‘Paris is not a city; it’s a world,’ said King Francis I. When it comes to fashion. he was on point. During Fashion Week, the city comes alive with the biggest names of the industry convening to take in all that top and emerging designers have to offer. Fashion designer, wellness enthusiast and Director of Poonawalla Stud Farm, Delna Poonawalla, gives HELLO! a ringside view.

The designers who made an impact: From the Dior show, where Rihanna made a surprising appearance, Kanye West stomping through mud for Balenciaga, and Cher strutting down the runway for the Balmain finale, dressed in a dark silver latex catsuit,to the jaw-dropping moment when Coperni literally spray painted a dress onto Bella Hadid, Paris Fashion Week 2022 gave us a lotto remember. Kylie Jenner made her presence felt across Paris, and pops of Valentino’s hot pink added to the vibrance of the already sparkling city.

The shows I attended: It was a privilege to be invited to my all-time favourite Valentino’s showcase. The Valentino Pink PP Collection by Pierpaolo Piccioli was truly unique, one that will never be forgotten. The venue was a beautiful glass house, which allowed for plenty of light and warmth to seep in. I had a splendid view of the show from the front row, and it was quite the experience, watching the models weave in and out through the benches. All in all, the show took my breath away!

Besides hot pink, there were reds, yellows and purples in the collection showcased. I also loved the subtle Valentino self-print in nude and black, and nude and red. The look that stood out the most was the mesh print with which Valentino had covering some of the models’ faces. It was striking!

The event was dotted with celebrities fromthe world over. Besides Madelaine Petsch of Riverdale fame, there was Florence Pugh in a pink dress paired with a white cape. ErykahBaku added a pop of colour to the frontrow. Christine Quinn from Selling Sunset was spotted in a tiny pink bikini and skirt set, besides Ashley Park from Emily In Paris, and British actor Simone Ashley, dressed elegantly in black lace.

I’ve always admired: Lanvin. Their drapes and finish are impeccable. The venue was an actual warehouse of sorts where benches were placed in rows of two and three throughout a dimly lit room with an orange hue. Artistic Director Bruno Sialelli showcased both men and women’s clothing on the runway, but she steered clear of the usual and instead presented a no-frills collection with clean lines. Lanvin highlighted single button-down suiting in a nude palette in glossy satin and silk fabrics.

Towards the middle of the show, we saw garments with pops of colour on denim and even T-shirts. A cool mesh trainer in emerald green and black rubber was introduced in this collection. But what stood out the most was a shimmering sheer organza men’s suit, followed by a string of women wearing sheer bucket hats.

What I wore: For the Valentino show, I made a corset from my new collection in pink, with dramatic wiring across the body and on one shoulder. I teamed it with black leather trousers, a Valentino bag and signature shoes in pink from their new collection.

delna poonawalla paris fashion week©HELLO! India

For Lanvin, I wore an elegant yet understated Balmain black dress with exaggerated shoulders and a drape. I paired it with my favourite dramatic black butterfly Sophie Webster shoes, with a handbag completing the look.

The closing parties: There was one at the bar at Hôtel Plaza Athénée. It’s lovely, and the bar has a great vibe. The final closing party was at Carmen Paris, where the theme was ‘Be a Vixen or a Fox’. It was super fun and had an open bar aswell as a live performance by Gavin Magnus. It was more relaxed than the shows, and everyone could let their hair down and have a good dance.

This story has been adapted for the website from a story that was originally published in Hello! India’s December 2022 issue. Get your hands on the latest issue right here!