The White Lotus takes MFW
(Picture: ES)Each January sees the fashion pack and some select A-listers travel between Paris and Milan for the new season menswear collections. This year, a specific set has been stealing focus: the cast of The White Lotus.
The clan rocketed into the spotlight thanks to Mike White’s much adored second series, set in Sicily, and have popped up on numerous Italian front rows, while their co-stars Jennifer Coolidge and Aubrey Plaza storm the red carpets as the awards season kicks off in LA.
Rumour started to spread of a fashion week White-out when Will Sharpe, who plays Ethan in the HBO series, was pictured side-by-side wife Sophia Di Martino at the Emporio Armani show on January 14.
The following day it was Adam DiMarco, who plays rich kid Albie, that was seen at Prada’s AW23 collection. The heartthrob actor was joined by the likes of Stormzy, Bottega Veneta creative director Matthieu Blazy and Pistols actor Louis Partridge in watching the runway.
Sunday’s JW Anderson show saw a doubling down, with the cast’s Italian actresses lapping up the limelight. Sabrina Impacciatore, who plays hotel manager Valentina, arrived sporting a full, sunset-printed look, while Simona Tabasco, who portrayed the loveable, local prositute Lucia, wore a sequin strewn, shoulder baring gown and she sided up to the creative director. They were joined by singer Charli XCX and Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino in taking in frog wellies and boxer briefs that strutted down the catwalk.
A fifith apperance then came on Monday at the Giorgio Armani show, when Theo James, a.k.a toxic masculinity incarnate Cameron, stopped for photographers with wife Ruth Kearney. In other words, this is a fully-fledged takeover — and I have no complaints.
Paper Magazine’s fashion editor Mario Abad (a must-follow for those wanting an inside scoop during fashion months) has tracked their attendance with enthusiasm – dubbing the cast the “Fashion Week flavour of the month.” There is one notable absentee, however, Leo Woodall who plays the dubious charmer Jack. “Someone please take him out of Essex and fly him to Paris next week,” Abad has pleaded.
Elsewhere in Milan, Gucci hosted its first collection without creative director Alessandro Michele. Power couples Idris Elba and Sabrina Dhowre Elba and Nick and Susie Cave were the toast of the event, seated by Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault and Gucci CEO Marco Bizzarri on the front row. TikTok sensation Francis Bourgeois and K-pop star Kai were also spotted.
Paris’s menswear fashion week begins January 17 and eyes will be peeled for more The White Lotus sightings.
