Blackpink’s Jennie Kim exuded chic sophistication with just a pair of black shades and a red towel ahead of the Jacquemus show in Capri, Italy. Channeling Brigitte Bardot from Jean Luc Godard’s 1963 French New Wave film “Le Mépris” (“Contempt”), the K-pop sensation starred in a series of vignettes shared by the brand on Instagram the day before the show. She was seen lounging on terracotta tiles, walking bare-shouldered along the rugged Capri coastline, and gazing at the sea from Casa Malaparte, the iconic location where the movie was filmed. Just as Bardot was to Godard, Jennie became designer Simon Porte Jacquemus’s muse on the runway.
In her surprise runway debut, Jennie closed the show in a minimalist backless halter dress, complemented by a turquoise shoulder bag and zebra-print heels. This latest achievement adds to her impressive resume as a singer, rapper, actress, and Chanel brand ambassador.
Korean pop stars have become fashion world favorites, drawing huge crowds as the global obsession with K-pop continues to grow. Luxury fashion houses are increasingly partnering with these celebrities, with fans flocking to venues to catch a glimpse of their idols. However, fans would have found it challenging to reach this particular runway location. Casa Malaparte, commissioned by the eccentric Italian writer Curzio Malaparte, is perched on a cliff overlooking the Gulf of Salerno and is accessible only by foot or boat.
The show at Casa Malaparte was a “full-circle moment” for Jacquemus, who has been captivated by the house and Godard’s film since launching his label 15 years ago. Models paraded up and down a staircase that forms part of the house’s roof, wearing ensembles that Jacquemus described as architectural shapes emerging “with absolute lightness and sensuality,” cascading, curving, and revealing through sheer mousseline like a layer of water.
“I decided to create my brand after watching ‘Le Mépris’ by Jean-Luc Godard, inspired by the beauty and modernity of his vision,” the designer shared on Instagram.
Jacquemus is renowned for his scenic runways. Last June, he presented an eveningwear collection at Versailles inspired by Princess Diana and Jacques Demy’s 1970 film “Peau d’Ane” (“Donkey Skin”), and for his 10th anniversary show, he ventured into Provence’s lavender fields.
