Bejeweled, Patchwork Denim Pop Up in Haute Couture Collections

There were fewer denim looks at Haute Couture Week in Paris compared to previous seasons, but they were none the less impactful.

For Spring/Summer 2024, couturiers treated denim with their house codes.

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For his 10^th anniversary, sustainability-focused designer RVDK Ronald Van Der Kemp paired tailored denim trousers piped with metallic gold with a gilded jacket. A pair of lattice-like jeans were constructed from patches and swatches of denim with various washes.

Titled “Superheroes,” Rahul Mishra applied his signature 3D embroidery to a collection inspired by the “delicate ecosystem of nature.” Reptiles and insects motifs were found throughout the collection, including jeans adorned with beaded lizards. Another pair of jeans featured jewel tone moth and beetle appliques, which carried into a floor-sweeping mesh cape.

Aelis creative director Sofia Crociani combined ballet influences with streetwear. In one look, she paired a denim bra top with a long eyelet skirt layered under a shorter tulle skirt.

Designer Robert Wun brought his cinematic aesthetic to denim. Known for using crystals to create a raindrop effect on garments, he applied crystals and pearls to a dark wash denim gown and matching coat. To emphasize the rain effect, he made an umbrella-shaped headpiece also made in denim.

Since the pandemic, denim has gained prominence in haute couture collections by Balenciaga and Schiaparelli. Valentino stunned denim heads last season with trompe-l’oeil beadwork that mimimc the texture and color of blue jeans.