The last time Kylie Jenner attended a Schiaparelli haute couture show, the reality TV star-turned-beauty mogul caused a huge uproar thanks to her wild front-row look. No, literally. The faux taxidermy lion’s head prowling across Jenner’s dress was, at the time, thought to be a) real, b) a blatant endorsement of trophy hunting, and c) grossly insensitive to just about anyone who cares remotely about animal cruelty. But Jenner, who appeared to exude Disney-villain energy, came out of the internet jungle swinging. It’s truly remarkable how the Kardashians keep doing this (cc: Balenciaga ambassador Kim.)
A year on from that social-media storm and Jenner is once again kicking off Couture Week with a bang. Front row at Schiaparelli–because who doesn’t love a comeback?—Jenner served up a look that read: revenge is a dish best served cold, with a side of sequins. In place of that lion’s mane–which was actually made from foam and resin and said to celebrate the glory of nature–the 26-year-old billionaire wore a crystal-dotted, baby-pink corset dress, celebrating the glory of the body that has helped make her fortune.
It’s a formula we’re familiar with in Paris. While stylists Alexandra and Mackenzie Grandquist major in sourcing street-inflected looks, from Alaïa to Margiela, for their client, Paris is where old-school glamour wins every time. Jenner’s last outing at Valentino’s haute spectacle in January involved a black feather boa, Risky Business-esque sunglasses and her daughter Stormi as accessories. Prior to that, she won John Galliano’s Pont Alexandre III extravaganza with a wasp-waisted look the models on the runway were trying to emulate. This season’s cinched, pants-free moment, with its verging-on-bridal veil, is just the next step in Kylie Jenner’s always impactful couture journey.
