Runway Rundown: Moncler Grenoble's St Moritz Spectacular
A snowscape, a matching FROW and plenty of supermodels, Naomi Pike shares all you need to know about the latest Moncler Grenoble show.
How do you stage a fashion spectacular for a been-there, seen-that audience in 2024? Take over an entire mountain, according to Moncler. For its latest Moncler Grenoble spectacular, the Italian outerwear brand invited 150 guests to Switzerland's St Moritz to witness a nighttime show set among the most dramatic snowcapped scenes the Alps have to offer.
So, how to avert eyes away from the stunning surrounds for even a second? With a collection that took on the practical and turned it into something altogether more alluring. Or, as the show notes read: 'A vision of high style unfolds naturally, revealing highly performative qualities, because style always influences technique, and in the end everything comes together.' Moncler Grenoble is the subsection of the brand that sits closest to the intention of its foundation, where it began in 1952 creating clothing for workers exposed to sub-zero temperatures.
Today, of course, Moncler speaks to an altogether more luxury definition where those able to wear its iconography on their arms do so for its reputation for quality and stealth. And this sumptuous collection, that focuses on that same innate sense of practicality, offered another convincing argument for a little Moncler in one's wardrobe.
So from the supermodels encountering what could have been their most treacherous catwalk yet to the collection details of note, let's rundown all that happened at the show.
Accessories? Get Fuzzed!
Is that Yeti? Of course not. It's Emily Ratajkowski. The star joined a stellar cast including Joan Smalls and Irina Shayk on the snowcapped catwalk. Ratajkowski's look was a great case in point for the collection's accessories offering. Aside from those scene-stealing boots that Y2K girlies will recognise all too well (are you ready to revisit that yet?), the model carried a contrasting duo of bags. It's part reality, part fantasy. Can any busy person needing to carry what was essential two bags imagine being able to keep that brilliant white fuzziness clean longer than 30mins? A girl can dream.
The Front Row Were Less Peacocks, More Snowy Owls
Usually, the front row, when packed with a heady mix of buyers, editors, VIPs and clients, is its own fashion parade where each invitee flaunts their own style with increasing flair. At this show, however, a different eventuality played out as each guest was encouraged to wear their very own white, padded Moncler jacket. Serving as both a cold-weather barrier and a way of allowing the natural surroundings to stand at the forefront and see the focus placed on the collection on display. Guests also each wore headphones that played the music individually to lessen the impact on the natural habitat.
The VIP Attendees
What's a show without a glitzy run of guests? At this show, the VIP teams worked hard to choose talent from across the spectrum, resulting in a cacophony of names including the Hollywood star power of Anne Hathaway, the instant London cool of Kate Moss and Michael Ward, the ingenuity of Willow Smith and the KPop collusus of Hwang Min-Hyun.
The Snow Informed The Palette
Consider the Moncler man or woman this season an intrepid explorer who is keen to best blend into their frosty surrounds. The collection looked largely to an artic palette of off-white and cream, replicating the snow-filled scene they passed through.
The Set Was More Than Just That
It feels reductive to call this show's setting simply 'a set' as it was an all-encompassing celebration of Switzerland's natural scenery where the snowy forrest made way for an uncompromising catwalk. Lighting was kept especially low to make for an even more dramatic evening presentation, where guests felt as though they were on their own exploration through the snowy mise-en-scène.
Knits Were Well Represented
Don't think that après ski was over looked. Instead, plenty of off-piste options were featured with a focus on Moncler's tradition for creation beautiful intarsia knits that riff on tradition, but with contemporary appeal. Here, Amelia Gray's look illustrated this best, with clever knits styled in the house's logo's signature palette.
Tonal Dressing Endures
As is so often the case, Mariacarla Boscono was given one of the collection's key looks, which certified tonal dressing is going nowhere. Note how her look plays with a selection of brown hues to stylish effect by playing with texture and a slight difference of colour. The easiest styling trick to take from here, however? The hair tucked in the roll neck. So chic.
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