A Look at the Most Over-the-Top Fashion Show Invitations
From Maison Martin Margiela's plastic televisions to Balenciaga's broken iPhones, some fashion week invites are just as glamorous as the shows themselves.
From New York to Paris, the Fall/Winter 2022 runways were nothing short of spectacular. From honouring the late Virgil Abloh with his final collection for Off-White and Louis Vuitton to being blown away by new garments such as Versace's iconic latex leggings and platform heels, this season's shows did not disappoint. However, alongside the shows, the invitations have been just as phenomenal.
Fashion show invitations play an integral role in expressing the theme of the show but are more often than not overlooked. While some may just be pieces of paper, others are very elaborately made and distributed. L'Officiel takes a look back at some of the most iconic fashion show invitations.
John Galliano's Playing Cards for Fall/Winter 2009
For his Fall/Winter 2009 collection, John Galliano sent out playing cards as invitations. Coming in a set of three, these cards featured different characters and gave off an old casino vibe.
Maison Martin Margiela's 3D Plastic Televisions for Fall/Winter 2009
Maison Martin Margiela sent its guests a 3D plastic television as the invitation for the brand's Fall/Winter 2009 show. This TV fit perfectly with the House's minimal aesthetic and featured the iconic Margiela numbers on its face.
Off-White T-Shirt for Fall/Winter 2017
When it comes to invitations, Abloh always came up with some of the best ideas. For the Fall/Winter 2017 Off-White show, guests received an invitation they could wear. Coming in a clear plastic bag that read "TEMPERATURE," guests were given an orange t-shirt that served as their runway invite.
Jacquemus' Bread Fall/Winter 2019
There's nothing better than freshly baked bread, and Jacquemus blessed its guests with that exact gift. For the Fall/Winter 2019 invitations, the brand sent guests a loaf of bread along with a formal paper invitation.
Gucci's Fruits and Vegetables for Fall/Winter 2019
It seems Fall/Winter 2019 was a major season for food-themed invitations. In an attempt to reduce paper waste, Gucci sent its guests an assortment of fruits and vegetables as a precursor to the runway show. Not only did guests get an invite to one of Milan Fashion Week's most anticipated shows, but they received free groceries as well. What more could you ask for?
Jil Sander's Tea Towel Fall/Winter 2019
Jil Sander's Fall/Winter 2019 invitation played along with the food motifs seen that year. The invitations were tea towels that were embroidered with details of the collection.
Louis Vuitton's Counterclockwise Clock for Men's Fall/Winter 2020
For Abloh's Fall/Winter 2020 collection with Louis Vuitton, he sent his guests a clock that only went counterclockwise. Inscribed with the LV monogram instead of numbers, this clock was one of the best invitations of the season and doubles as a conversation piece of home decor.
Fendi's Pasta for Spring/Summer 2021
In case you thought designer labels were limited to fashion, Fendi created custom pasta as its Spring/Summer 2021 show invites. Showcasing the iconic Fendi logo, these pasta bags were too cute to eat, but a great piece to display in the kitchen.
Balenciaga's iPhones for Fall/Winter 2022
More recently, Balenciaga gave their guests broken iPhones as invitations to the Maison's Fall/Winter 2022 show. The phones came with a formal card as well, but what made them interesting is the inscribed Balenciaga logo on the back. This is the only broken iPhone we'd want in our possession.
