Paris 2024 kicked off in style as the Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, artistically directed by the imaginative Thomas Jolly, put on a dazzling display of national pride and cultural celebration along the iconic River Seine. The ceremony’s sartorial spectacular has left spectators buzzing with excitement. This article will take a closer look at the performers’ elaborate and eye-catching costumes.
Lady Gaga in Dior Couture
Lady Gaga wore a Dior Haute Couture ensemble featuring a black feather jacket, over a satin bustier, panties, and a skirt adorned with pink and white ostrich feathers, accessorised with a Dior feather hat and rented pom poms from the archives of the French cabaret theatre Le Lido.
Choristers in Dior
The Olympic Flag was raised over the Trocadéro as the Olympic Anthem played, performed by the Radio France Choir and French National Orchestra, while the choristers were dressed in Dior designs by Maria Grazia Chiuri.
CanCan In ‘Shocking Pink’
80 artists from the Moulin Rouge cabaret captivated the crowd with an energetic can-can performance along the Seine River. The dancers were adorned in vibrant, “shocking pink” costumes evocative of the signature hue pioneered by celebrated fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli.
Joyful Ensembles Celebrating Love
In a nod to the “City of Love” and the French phrase “Ménage à trois,” three actors in vibrant, kaleidoscopic costumes designed by De Vilmorin engaged in a playful, flirtatious chase through the streets and the Bibliothèque Richelieu, evoking the spirit of the French New Wave classic “Jules et Jim.” The Olympics celebration embraced the sentiment expressed by Victor Hugo that “the freedom to love is no less sacred than the freedom to think.”
GOJIRA and Marina Viotti
In a groundbreaking performance, the first heavy metal band to take the Olympic stage paid tribute to the ill-fated French queen Marie Antoinette. The collaboration between the metal group and opera singer Marina Viotti featured a theatrical, metal-infused homage to the French Revolution, complete with painted clown-like faces and renditions of the revolutionary song “Ça ira” during the “Liberté” segment of the ceremony.
Aya Nakamura Dressed by Dior
French pop sensation Aya Nakamura captivated the audience with a dynamic mashup of her hit songs “Pookie” and “Djadja”, accompanied by a rousing performance by France’s prestigious Republican Guard. Nakamura commanded the stage in a striking Dior Couture feathered mini-dress and gilded helm, flanked by her troupe of dancers adorned in coordinating Dior designs, creating an elegant, phoenix-like display.
Axelle Saint-Cirel Delivers the National Anthem
Singing the French national anthem atop the Grand Palais, performer Axelle Saint-Cirel wore an 8-meter Dior gown styled after the tricolour flag. The chorus behind her carried flags displaying designs by the late artist Faith Ringgold, whose collaboration with Dior’s Maria Grazia Chiuri had debuted at the brand’s recent couture show.
Ballet Dancers
Ballet took centre stage, with Guillaume Diop, performing on a riverside rooftop alongside around 100 dancers from across France’s ballet companies, as well as students and firefighter gymnasts. Diop, the first Black “étoile” or principal dancer at the Paris Opera, was attired in a beige Vuitton vest and pleated brown shorts for his prominent role in the second major segment of the ceremony.
Eclectic Runway on the Passerelle Debilly Bridge
A fashion showcase on the Passerelle Debilly, the site of Kenzo’s runway last year, featured notable models including Farida Khelfa in an ensemble by Maitrepierre and Paralympic fencer Beatrice “Bebe” Vio Grandis dressed by Germanier. Weinsanto honored his Alsace roots by outfitting his muse Ildjima Masrangar in a giant organza coif.
Served and Ate
A band of 18 drag queens and dancers, including Drag Race France’s Nicky Doll, performed a parody of the Last Supper, while actor Phillippe Katerine portrayed the Greek god, Dionysus, rising dramatically from beneath a large cloche on a platter of fruit. The Olympics framed this segment as an “interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus” aimed at highlighting “the absurdity of violence between human beings.”
Juliette Armanet
French singer Juliette Armanet delivered an emotive rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” accompanied by pianist Sofiane Pamart playing a burning piano as rain fell during the opening ceremony.
Joan Of Arc
A figure resembling Joan of Arc rode a mechanical silver horse “galloping” down the Seine, wearing armour designed by up-and-coming non-binary French fashion designer Jeanne Friot, showcasing emerging talent. This cowled rider on a grey horse, reminiscent of Joan of Arc, carried the Olympic flag to its final destination opposite the Eiffel Tower.
Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Carl Lewis, Nadia Comaneci
Sporting legends Carl Lewis, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams were aboard a Seine river boat, transporting the Olympic flame. Williams wore a beautiful red midi dress from Dolce & Gabbana’s fall 2023 collection.
Celine Dion Performing On the Eiffel Tower
As the grand finale, Celine Dion performed Edith Piaf’s “L’hymne a l’amour” from the balcony of the Eiffel Tower as the Olympic flame was lit below. Dion wore a white silk georgette Dior haute couture gown adorned with thousands of silver beads and over 500 meters of studded fringing, accessorised with dazzling jewellery.
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Editor
Zi Ying OngCredit
Lead Image: @ladygaga via Instagram
