As 250 personally-selected guests take their seats among the palm and banana trees in the garden at La Jungle Du Roi – Plein’s palatial Côte d’Azur home – the stage is set for a night to remember.
Inspired by the nature and light of these spectacular surroundings, the collection is full of floral patterns and sparkling embellishment. A romantic and fresh spirit breezes through the women’s offering with flower patterned 50s style gowns and honeycombed netball skirts; elsewhere, a black floor-length lace dress with appliqued red roses injects a moment of Flamenco-like passion.
But street couture and attitude is always at the pounding heart of the Plein woman. So, she wears these glamorous pieces with sweatshirts, fur-trimmed hoodie bombers and studded leather biker jackets – a combination merging fierceness and femininity. She stomps by in vixen thigh-high snakeskin boots, with slogans like “He offered her the world… She said she had her own!” emblazoned across heavily decorated vintage military jackets. Richly adorned jean flares, jackets and matching handbag with snakeskin detailing elevates everyday realness to a new ultra-luxe level.
Denim also dominates the men’s section. Frayed, ripped, studded, patchworked, painted and embroidered, skinny jeans and jackets are their 24-hour uniform – always cool, always easy and always worn with white high-top sneakers. This effortless, relaxed feel is there too in wool sweaters and jersey tracksuit pants, all decorated with snakeskin details, skull prints and ‘PP’ insignia. But don’t be fooled: there is a serious punk attitude coursing through their veins as they swagger by in black and red bombers and white croc biker jackets. Tough and determined: this is the DNA of the Plein man.
The Resort 2018 show also introduces elements from a new capsule collection produced in collaboration with famed graffiti artist Alec Monopoly.
Featuring sweatshirts, jackets and tracksuits covered in his trademark top-hatted character and dollar bill signs, alongside personalized one-of-a-kind pieces handpainted specially for this Cannes moment, the Alec X Plein collection showcases artwork you can wear.
Among the cast of new models, some famous faces and personal friends of Plein return to the runway for this special Cannes celebration, including Paris Hilton, Sofia Richie and Jeremy Meeks. Plus: there is a star turn by the iconic boxing champion Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather.
Opening up his private home for this unique occasion, the Resort 2018 is not only Philipp Plein’s most personal and intimate collection to date, it also marks a new milestone in the evolution of his global brand.
