Coperni Spring 2025 Ready - To - Wear:
Now *that* was a spectacle. We had naive innocence, angsty rebellion, villains, mermaids, princesses, lightning bolts, fireworks, rats, and even Kylie Jenner. For the brave, the afterparty included a chance to ride Hyperspace Mountain (which was *epic*). As I reluctantly left Disneyland Paris at the stroke of midnight, the techno beats still reverberated through the Magic Kingdom. Fashion Month always feels like stepping into an alternate reality, but this was a whole new level of surreal.
Backstage in Cinderella’s banquet hall, Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant shared that they’d been prepping for this—the first-ever fashion show at any Disneyland—for two years. Vaillant added, “When Disney first approached us, it was supposed to be a small collaboration. Sébastien joked about doing a show together someday. We had no idea it would grow into something this massive.”
Disney went all-in on the partnership. The show took place in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, and the finale? It was straight-up cinematic, with fireworks, lightning flashes, and sparklers lighting up the castle. We even saw a few sneaky rodents scurrying across the drawbridge just before the show kicked off—one of the guests yelled “Ratatouille!” which only added to the bizarre charm of the night.
Coperni’s collection was its largest yet, divided into three story-driven sections for the show. “We love the idea of fairy tales and the transition from childhood to adulthood that you often see in Disney movies,” Vaillant said. It began with an innocent vibe: ruffled floral jacquard jackets paired with bloomers, paying homage to the early 20th century when Walt Disney was born. Butterflies made from organza fluttered on scuba-textured fabrics, symbolizing the shift from childlike wonder to jaded park-goers. The designers also reimagined vintage Disney shirts—my personal favorite was the ‘Coperni princess’ one, alongside another featuring Lumiere with the phrase, ‘I’ve been burned by you before.’ The salt-crusted jeans and Swipe bag were pure magic.
Then came a brief mermaid interlude, and as the first rumbles of thunder echoed, lightning struck, and we were transported from park tourists to Disney-inspired characters. About ten percent of the collection was designed in collaboration with Disney, featuring standout pieces like a Maleficent-inspired bustier dress, horned hoodies, and gowns nodding to Sleeping Beauty’s iconic tiara. The one-legged outfits were melodramatically theatrical—just perfect.
As the show transitioned from darkness to light, two bodies—one blue, one yellow—appeared, encased in silicone and adorned with flowers made of electrical cables. Bodysuits were paired with massive crinoline satin hems, giving rise to what Meyer called “modern tech princesses.” One princess held a new 3D-printed version of the Swipe bag, made by a Boston-based company using liquid suspension. Priced at around $500, it’s Coperni’s most affordable tote yet.
“This has been the biggest project of our lives,” Vaillant said about the show and collection. And honestly, it was the most enchanting conclusion to a Fashion Month I’ve ever experienced.