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Celebrities have been the stars of the spring/summer 2023 shows, whether they were seated in the front seats or strutting down the runways. However, on September 28th in Paris, Cher made a final walk for the new Balmain collection by designer Olivier Rousteing, which may have been the best celebrity cameo of the entire month.
The venue, the Stade Jean-Bouin stadium in Paris’s 16th district, was selected more for its capacity than for its geographic proximity. Nearly 8,000 attendees, who paid for their tickets by making a donation to Red, comprised the so-called Balmain Army of creative director Olivier Rousteing. For good reason, the event was referred to be a festival rather than a show. Even snacks were available.
At Paris Fashion Week, where closed doors, champagne, and front row scuffles are standard, democracy – and food – are not the rule. Nevertheless, Rousteing’s commercial success—he is about to begin his second decade at the label—is entirely dependent on offering people what they want. And for this season, that meant more than 100 distinct designs, such as gowns made of straw and raffia, bustiers crafted from ethically sourced chestnut bark, jackets decorated with Renaissance art, and, of course, Cher.
Cher, who is still stunning at 76, stunned the spectators by closing the show in a bodysuit made of spandex with a delicate marble print, sharp shoulder pads, and a plunging neckline. Cher also made sure to wear towering platform wedge heels because it wouldn’t be a Cher moment without a touch of theatricality. Of course, she walked in these gravity defying shoes with complete ease.
Her appearance on the catwalk demonstrated that having tremendous style and confidence can happen at any age; in fact, it seems to become better every year.
