The K-pop stars -- and thousands of fans -- turned out for Hedi Slimane's men's week closer.
Many of the more staid guests were in awe. “Insane, absolutely insane,” said Eddie Redmayne, though he is clued in to the K-pop world. “I mean, I listen to it. I think they’re brilliant. I worked with a wonderful Korean actress named Claudia Kim who gave me a little bit of an introduction,” he said, and praised Korean fans for their passion.
“I don’t understand. What are they doing here?” asked Thomas Brodie-Sangster. “It’s mad out there.” When the “Queen’s Gambit” star heard that K-pop stars were causing the commotion, he said he’s been to Korea before and finds the fashion really cool. He also praised Slimane’s sleek silhouette and his work as a photographer.
“He’s methodical. He played one song on a loop over and over,” said Brodie-Sangster, reminiscing about a shoot the two did years ago. It’s the same style Slimane used for Sunday’s show. An original song by Gustaf played on repeat with the lyrics “You feel yourself and nothing else,” and “People get used to terrible things.”
Jeremy Scott made a rare appearance in the front row to support longtime friend Slimane, whom he has known since 1997, he said. “I’m used to being tucked away and having no idea about the pandemonium outside,” said the Moschino designer of the crowds outside. “I was just saying how overwhelming it was to get out of the car. Seeing so many people, yeah, I got a touch of anxiety.”
But hearing that the room was waiting for the K-pop stars, he noted that he is a longtime fan. “I actually was part of the early wave of K-pop because I kinda broke 2ne1 into the U.S., so actually I was a pioneer if I want to be honest,” he said of the girl group that was active in the mid 2010s and that just reunited for a set at Coachella.The crowds were so dense outside that, in an extraordinary move, all guests were escorted through the backstage to exit.