YOHJI WAS MY FIRST

Finally, I was invited to a fashion show, finally! And not just any fashion show, but by someone whose I appreciate his aesthetics and style, love the look and detailed craftsmanship, who has a funky personality and an unconventional thinking. Someone who would never leave the house without his hat, Mr. Yohji Yamamoto. 

I had zero faith that this was actually going to happen, so much so that when we went to pick up the invitations on our rented bicycles, I sent my husband inside so I will not have to bear the disappointment. But less than a minute later he showed up with two delicate, black linen envelopes with a Yohji Yamamoto logo and my name: Madame Ifat Pridan. Yes, I was a Madame for once. My husband, who kept these invitations safe inside his coat, on the bicycle, in the rain, was very aware that if someone held a gun to my head asking me to choose between him and the invitation, it would be hard choice for me…

The Yohji Yamamoto Spring-Summer ’25 presentation was held at Paris Hôtel de Ville (city hall), a glamorous palace that has been the headquarters of the municipality of Paris since 1357. After finding our way through the massive groupies, photographers and guards, we arrived at the guests check-in. They asked us for the barcode confirmation, and I saw my dream breaking into little glass pieces in front of my eyes. A barcode? What barcode? We kept it cool, like a barcode was so beneath us, and after one look at our linen envelops they let us in.

Climbing up on the red and gold carpet stairs of a 15^th century palace, the glorious lights of the gigantic chandeliers above a long runway made me feel like I was on a movie set. I didn’t think anyone would really notice us or what we were wearing, but out of respect for the event, and just in case we were to bump into Mr. Yamamoto, we wore items from his current collection. And I am glad we did, because we did bump into him on his way to the bathroom…. No, just kidding, but most guests showed the same respect by wearing his current and previous collection creations. Others were wearing outrageous outfits that almost looked like costumes. I mean, really? Showing up to a fashion show with wings? Or practically naked with a beaded bikini?  It was inspiring to share a space with the industry’s finest stylists, photographers, producers, makeup artists, hair designers and fashion magazine editors.

When it was time to take our assigned seats, we looked at the three rows of tiny folded wooden chairs and thought I probably didn’t fit in such a small chair since my elementary school days. Only when another fashion editor came to sit next to me, I realized I was sitting on two chairs!!!!  They were T-I-N-Y and fragile and you could not have squeezed a finger between them. The Belgian “collaborator” (don’t ask me what a collaborator does, but it’s obviously a thing) sitting too close to me said that these sometimes collapse in the middle of the show. It was so tight that that every time I exhaled I had even less space. The woman on the other side of the runway almost disappeared between the two broad shouldered men sitting on her sides. But this is not a complaint, just an observation, some people had to wait hours in line just to get a “standing audience” spot.

And then, in a split second everything stopped, the room became noiseless and dark, not a sound, just a single spotlight on a huge grand piano. The fashion show started. One by one, slowly, and individually, the models came out, each had the stage for herself and the time for the audience to respect and appreciate her outfit, it felt like the opposite museum experience, the art was walking in front of me. The collection, “Broken Outfits” was shown to the sound of emotional piano music and electric guitars. A feminine, fluffy hair style, flowy outfits and one-sided rock-n-roll makeup, they looked like they were walking on clouds. It was magical, as if I offered a quick peep behind the curtains to a secret cult gathering. I was in heaven and the tiny wood chair felt like a THRONE.

After a spectacular main collection (mostly black, with some hints of red) came the cherry on top: a group of fire-engine red dresses. The unexpected color shock and unexpected “classic” dresses were the perfect grand finale to the dark colors, de-constructed collection.

 And as to us, our Discord Yohji Yamamoto FW24 bags and wallets collection will be here by the second week of October. Stay tuned.