by Chinazam Ikechi-Uko.
“Bonjour Dazed, je suis Madame Starr, and we are going to the Louboutin show,” Grammy-nominated Afrobeats singer Ayra Starr, says in a perfect accent. The name Louboutin has been a challenge for English speakers. But for the Cotonou-raised artiste, speaking French is like breathing, and in the French capital, Starr was at home because it was fashion week.
In 2021, Starr dropped her debut album, and on the second track, she tells us how much of a Fashion Killer she is. With lyrics like, “I light the room in the dark ’cause my bling is a torch
I watched fashion die today in the mirror that I saw, oh oh.”
It is 2024, and Starr proves that the song is far from an empty brag. Her first Paris Fashion Week was in 2023, when she sat in the front row at the Balmain and Off-White shows. This year, she returned at full throttle, invited to shows like Christian Louboutin, Casablanca, and Balenciaga, and performed during the Etam runway.
During breaks from her busy schedule of fashion shows, Starr attended two significant events – Rosalia’s 32nd birthday celebration and the unveiling of Business of Fashion’s prestigious 500 list for 2024. Starr embarked on a week-plus-long stay in Paris and immersed herself in the glamour and creativity of its renowned fashion week, which took place from Monday, September 23rd to Tuesday, October 1st. Throughout her time in Paris, Starr’s presence added to the city’s allure, and Paris will forever be grateful.
For eight days, the community stood still as Starr provided a new look for people to obsess over. If the designers invited Starr to draw attention to their shows. Then Starr paid in full as she was one of the most discussed attendees with many declaring her the best dressed on X. “Cardi and Ayra Starr have been carrying Paris fashion week on their back whew,” A tweet read.
If Starr was invited because they recognised her fashion skills, then she flexed her might and ended any second guesses. She turned out in as many bangers as a Rema album. She earned several nods from the High Fashion communities with Vogue detailing her appearance at Rosalía’s birthday party. Like Ayra Starr Central said, “Ayra Starr, thank you for your service this #parisfashionweek, you made it unforgettable 🌟🌟🌟.”
As the Parisians close their runways and the models fly home, let’s look back on the several looks that Starr pulled up in.
ETAM:
Starr began her run in the Paris Fashion Week gauntlet with the Etam show where she also played the role of an entertainer. As the models showcased the latest French lingerie and loungewear label’s collection, Starr performed her hit track, Rush, in a custom black ensemble which featured a boned corset.
BALMAIN:
Starr showed up for the Balmain show wearing a blue mini dress with a graphic reference to the female body. The Balmain show was inspired by the breakthrough collection of its founder, Monsieur Pierre Balmain. The designs are an ode to his historical “Jolie Madame” silhouette. The Autumn/Winter 1952 collection featured embroidery, shoulder pads, and the waisted waist, which became the New French Style.
Starr nods at the history with her shoulder pads and carries a bag bearing the name of the 1952 collection.
CASABLANCA:
If there is one brand that has always respected African talents, it is the French-Morrocan brand from teaming up with Streetwear giant Street Souk– the largest Streetwear convention in Africa– to making a Lagos collection that featured Seun Kuti in a Fela Kuti-inspired jumpsuit.
This year, for its Spring-Summer collection, Casablanca looks to the Mexican-American culture for his collection. Hyperbae describes it as a blend of the vibrant artistry of Mexican-American “Lowrider” culture with a dash of Hollywood glam.
Starr follows the ambience as her outfit matches the Mexican colour palette. Colours associated with the sun and night sky are often referred to as Mexican colours. This is because its art and fashion are heavily influenced by the Aztec and Mayan civilisations. Dopely Colors explains, “The basis of Aztec colour symbolism was to consider different colours for the four main directions with the ruling god. But the basis of Mayan colour symbolism is a connection with God.”
Christian Louboutin:
As homage to water ballets of the 50s Hollywood cinema, the Louboutin show was undeniably fun to watch and getting in on the fun was Starr. Who introduced us to her alter-ego, Madame Starr, minutes before the collection went live.
Balenciaga:
“My early memories of fashion start with me drawing looks on cardboard, cutting them out and making ‘fashion shows’ on my kitchen table,” Denma Gvasalia (creative director of Balenciaga) says to Hypebeast. For the show, Gvasalia takes us back through his childhood dreams and like him in that kitchen, all Starr did with this look was cook.
COPERNI:
For Coperni, Starr pulled the ultimate fashion show trick and wore a dress from the collection that was yet to debut. The collection held at Disneyland was a tribute to everything Disney. Starr’s dress is a reference to the flying saucer, an attraction at the amusement park. The black version of the look was teased by Coperni on its Instagram, a week before Starr held the honour to debut it.
From attending top-tier shows like Balmain, Christian Louboutin, and Balenciaga to gracing the runway at Etam, Starr has showcased her versatility and influence. Starr’s fashion choices have not only garnered attention but have also sparked discussions within the fashion community. As she was name-dropped in several publications and brands highlighting her presence on their social media accounts.
- Business Of Fashion:
Her Business of Fashion red carpet look proved that red carpets might not be her weakness. The stunning Richard Quinn piece gave us a double feature when she detached her dress’s black shell.
