The Euphoria fanbase is alive and thriving, and it's found new members in Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer — the creative force behind Parisian ready-to-wear label Coperni. For Fall 2022, the duo took us into the hallowed halls of high school, with a perimeter of grey lockers encircling guests.
Presenting a collection fit for the classroom and the dancehall, Vaillant and Meyer spoke of tapping into the fountain of youth for inspiration. "We want to dress the new generation," Vaillant said. In the world of high fashion, it's a goal that comes with its own set of constraints. "So we cannot do jackets for 2,000 euros," the designer continued. As our favourite onscreen teens went through the motions dressed in everything from Mugler couture to vintage Blumarine, the question of accessibility often surfaced.
Together with the women of Cap Est Sarl atelier in Kyiv — who are safe at present — Vaillant and Meyer addressed these qualms in the Coperni show. Striking the right balance between quality and affordability in order to present pieces that are both playful and daring. The show begins with a healthy dose of tailoring. Suit jackets cloaked the head like a nun's habit, with the hood motif seeping into the woollen coats and fleece as well. Trench coats were sliced at the centre and twisted to reveal a bare midriff, while Coperni riffed on Miu Miu's now iconic skirt set, with a grey marle and black micro skirt suit belted just below the bust.
Another showing of the dinner glove confirms what we already knew to be true: this is the season's fiercest trend. Coperni's own iteration climbs up the arms in cable knit wool. The rise of ballet wear is also noted. Capri tights wind around the knee before being knotted in a bow. Coperni's signature Swipe Bag, which also had a cameo in Euphoria, gets a crystal and chrome makeover — a precarious brainwave of Vaillant and Meyer. Denim and leather with cargo pockets are refashioned into mid rise chaps and are belted halfway up the thigh. Angular loafers, pointed kitten heels, the boots of our dreams, shimmering sandals, and upcycled glitter Adidas Sambas are all our club shoe of choice.
Coperni presents a roll call of faces and names to rival even the most luscious and lauded in Euphoria. Bella and Gigi Hadid are essential, as is Adut Akech and Paloma Elsesser. Lila Moss comes through as a baby-faced, baby blue Cassie, and what's a show dripping in cool without the presence of Mica Argañaraz?
If the tailoring is meant as conservative daywear, then the dresses arrive to balance the scales. Prefaced with bulky teddy robes, emergency yellow and soft pink latex is fashioned into mini dresses with keyhole necklines and pinched roses. Asymmetrical hemlines and tube silhouettes sway in. Lila Moss clings to adolescence in a diamond cut out long sleeve party dress paired with untied sneakers. And the finale presents sheer midnight blue minis speckled with glitter and styled over black briefs.
For some, this is a wardrobe worthy of our most debaucherous nights out, for the students of Euphoria High School, this is just another day in fashion paradise.
Watch the Coperni Fall 2022 show, below.