In the summer of 1989, the opera diva Jessye Norman delivered a breathtaking rendition of “La Marseillaise” on the Place de la Concorde. She was there as part of the celebrations to mark the bicentenary of the French Revolution, and she was draped in a dramatic gown in the bold red, white and blue of the French tricolour, crafted by the revered couturier Azzedine Alaïa.
Tonight in Paris, as hundreds of models, athletes and creatives took over the Place Vendôme for Vogue World: Paris, the house the late designer founded helped to stage a remarkable tribute to that unforgettable moment. Alaïa creative director Pieter Mulier designed an homage to that infamous flag gown, complete with a blue hood, a cut-out waist (reminiscent of the silhouettes in his autumn/winter 2024 collection), and a striking split skirt.
This year, Vogue World is a celebration of fashion and sport, and the Alaïa gown – worn by supermodel and former British Vogue cover star Anok Yai – was the perfect opener for Act IV, a tribute to the 1990s and its ties to football fever.