FKA Twigs - The Angel Of Paris Men’s Fashion Week

FKA Twigs made an unexpected and wholly ethereal appearance at Paris Men’s Fashion Week, as she soundtracked the Valentino autumn/winter 2020 show with stripped-back renditions of her singles “Mary Magdalene” and “Cellophane”. Pierpaolo Piccioli might have infused the tailoring in the collection with his couture sensibilities, but, for one night only, male fashion was about celebrating an angel within the models’ midsts.

Twigs, real name Tahliah Debrett Barnett wore look 46 from the haute couture offering Picciolo recently presented in Beijing’s storied Summer Palace. Entitled a “Valentino Daydream”, the exquisite collection also included J-Lo’s Golden Globes gown, with the bouffant bow detail that drew comparisons to Christmas gift wrapping, and the meticulously embroidered floral ball gown that helped bright young thing Kaitlyn Dever graduate into fashion ingenue. The only difference between the catwalk iteration and Twigs’s delicate lace floral gown dotted with sequins was the beaded face mask framed by the high ruffled neckline. Piccioli’s team of premieres; Alessandra, Antonietta, Elide, and Irene, made a Twigs-friendly version of the chainmail-effect accessory that enabled her to sing.

As Piccioli took his bow in front of menswear press and buyers, Twigs joined him for a lap around the Grand Palais. Their friendship was formalised for all to see last summer, when the creative director invited the alt pop star to enjoy a front row view of his autumn/winter 2019 couture collection in Paris. Twigs, wearing a “V” stamped bucket hat, black dress and cow-printed boots, would have also met his heads of atelier then, as Piccioli traditionally takes a bow with them.

This time round, it was Luka Sabbat, Evan Mock, and rising musician Ama Lou who applauded Twigs from the sidelines. May this not be the last we hear of her haunting voice and angelic overtures in fashion.