Celine Homme AW23 Le Palace
VIPs flooded the entryway to the famed Le Palace in Paris for the Celine Homme AW23 Show, a celebration of fashion, music and the cultural heritage of the iconic venue. It was like walking through a portal back to 1978, the height of this venue's nightclub incarnation. Le Palace was originally built as a theater and dance hall in the 17th century. Then, in the '70s, at the hands of impresario Fabrice Emaer, Le Palace was transformed into the Studio 54 of Paris. It was a place where a variety of communities could mix freely with exuberance. Attracting the likes of Yves Saint Laurent, Grace Jones, Prince, Karl Lagerfeld, Andy Warhol, Serge Gainbourg, Mick Jagger, Jerry Hall, and many more, this iconic venue was a hub of masked balls and live performances before making their way to the basement to Le Privilege private club.
Hedi Slimane, the creative director of Celine, has a deep connection to Le Palace, having frequented the venue during his youth starting from the age of 16. He considers Le Palace as a sentimental place that triggered his future as a couturier and even celebrated his 50th surprise birthday party there in July 2018. Hedi Slimane's collection pays tribute to today's youth's rediscovery of the 2000's Electro Clash and Electronic Rock sounds and scenes, a movement appearing in major cities like Paris, London, and New York. He pays tribute to New York's cult proto-punk band Suicide, formed in 1977 by Alan Vega and Martin Rev, a band that still intrigues and inspires the emerging music scenes in 2023.
The key to the collection, the tight black leather Celine pants, are paired in "double leather" with biker and racer jackets customized with studs or rhinestones. The Celine coats are worn oversized and cut out of cashmere or English tweeds recreated on a traditional loom. The Celine suits are slightly raised, worn with cropped flared trousers, and the embroideries are handmade in the Parisian couture ateliers. The giant leopard and tiger printed coats are made from shearling cashmere. The models all wore "Nightclubbing" perfume, part of the Celine Haute Parfumerie collection. The pieces that pay tribute to Le Palace's iconic years are limited edition.