The best runway moments of 2024 included major debuts, returns and goodbyes in the fashion world. Celebrities across a range of industries graced the runways in bold looks, with many walking for the first time in their careers. Barriers were broken, inclusivity was spotlighted, and the fashion world held their own version of the Olympics. We saw unforeseen collaborations (think Disney) and an emphasis on bringing international talent to equally international locations. More and more musicians are performing alongside models during shows, which adds yet another layer of intrigue to shows already saturated with bold pieces and new trends.
From New York to Paris and even Riyadh, this year’s runway shows offered some of the most inspiring and iconic moments to remember. If 2025’s runways are anything like they were this year, we’ll have nothing but joy and amazement looking ahead.
Below, we revisit the best runway moments of 2024 and what they mean for years to come.
Maison Margiela’s Unbeatable Artisanal Show
We start the year with the show that seemed to rebirth the fashion industry from its holiday slumber. On a dark, rainy, Parisian evening underneath the iconic Pont Alexandre III bridge, John Galliano presented Margiela’s artisanal show. Curating the ambiance of a 1920s-style dive bar, Margiela paraded models down the runway with exaggerated, stilted movements showing off extreme corsets and miraculous prosthetic work. The models’ faces looked like haunted porcelain dolls, a creation of makeup extraordinaire Pat McGrath, quickly spawning a social media frenzy of influencers and makeup enthusiasts trying to recreate the looks. As dramatic as the performance were the clothes, clinging to bodies as if they were extensions of the models’ skin. A poignant reminder to all of what haute couture looks like, Galliano’s Margiela set the bar high for a year to come.
Kylie Jenner’s Paris Fashion Week Debut
It was like a fairytale come true – Kylie Jenner made her Paris Fashion Week runway debut closing the Coperni SS25 show set at Disneyland Paris. Her look was one of intrigue and mystery—a midnight-black ball gown with matching gloves, paired with Coperni’s iconic and playful heels. Jenner’s debut wasn’t the only one at the show; this was the first time Disneyland Paris has ever held a fashion show. Not only was Jenner’s look stunning, reminiscent of a real-life Disney princess, but the entire concept of Coperni’s show is awe-inspiring. Taking over two years to design a special collection in collaboration with Disney, Coperni creative directors Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant blended the fantastical with the real life.
Elie Saab's 300 Dresses in Riyadh
Taking a detour to Riyadh, iconic Lebanese couturier Elie Saab celebrated 45 years of dressmaking with a star-studded runway show. Featuring live music from Celine Dion, Jennifer Lopez and Camila Cabello as well as Arab icons Amr Diab and Nancy Ajram, the event wove the beauty of Saab’s pieces through captivating musical talent. Unveiling more than 300 brand new looks and a show that lasted over an hour, Saab’s show is iconic on many levels, and brings an icon of couture to Saudi Arabia during a time when the country’s fashion industry is rapidly growing.
Bella Hadid's Runway Return, the Saint Laurent Way
In an unexpected appearance that shocked both fans and the fashion industry, supermodel Bella Hadid made her runway return in an oversized blazer and matching trousers for Saint Laurent’s SS25 show in Paris. Her first time on the runway since the iconic Coperni spray dress moment in 2022, Bella’s return comes as she’s taken time away from modeling to develop her Orebella fragrances and her non-alcoholic drink brand Kin Euphorics while focusing on her health. Her look on the runway, an homage to Yves Saint Laurent’s personal style of suiting, comes after she was spotted in a sheer Saint Laurent gown earlier this year at the Cannes Film Festival.
Model Jennie Kim Debuts at Jacquemus’ 15th Anniversary
The sensational BLACKPINK member Jennie Kim, known widely as Jennie, has been making her way in the fashion world, from becoming a Chanel ambassador, walking the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival and attending the Met Gala. And with the clever casting by Simon Porte Jacquemus, Jennie debuted on the fashion runway for Jacquemus’ 15th anniversary cruise show in Capri, Italy. Closing the show in a black halter dress, zebra heels, and a turquoise clutch, Jennie’s look mirrored her own style she’s been rocking on and off the red carpet. The Jacquemus show, called ‘La Casa,’ was staged at the iconic Casa Malaparte villa, which overlooks Capri’s stunning blue waters from its cliff point, and was attended by stars ranging from Dua Lipa to Gigi Hadid.
Miu Miu SS25 Brings A-Listers to the Runway
While Miuccia Prada and Miu Miu are not shy to feature celebrities and other A-listers on their runways — see Troye Sivan walking for SS24, for example – this year’s SS25 runway during Paris Fashion Week was something else. Mixing sportswear chic with tailored jackets and coats, Miu Miu brought out some of Hollywood’s finest to walk the show. For starters, Poor Things heartthrob Willem Dafoe closed the show, returning to a Miuccia runway after his last appearance for Prada AW12. His look, one of ultimate class while keeping casual: a slightly baggy coat, unzipped black leather boots, a collar peeking out of a crewneck sweater and baggy trousers. English-Nigerian rapper Little Simz, Cara Delevigne, Alexa Chung and Amelia Gray also took the runway.
The Angels are Back
For the first time in six years, the Victoria’s Secret angels were back in action on the runway in New York this October. A homecoming of sorts, VS brought out Cher to perform during the show, where viewers were also able to shop the looks as they were coming out on the runway. The show itself was a renewed and refreshed version of what fans remember from six years back. VS was very intentional with casting models, and A-Lister’s and It Girls were among the ranks. Kate Moss made her debut on the VS runway, joined by Tyra Banks, who returned to the runway after retiring from modeling in 2005. Paloma Elsesser, Ashley Graham, Adriana Lima, and Gigi and Bella Hadid also walked. Victoria’s Secret wasn’t playing around. Special kudos from the equally star-filled audience was reserved for social media icon, rising supermodel, and Teen Vogue cover star Alex Consani.
Hollywood Meets Supermodels at L'Oréal
In September, during Paris Fashion Week, L'Oréal Paris held the seventh edition of Le Défilé at the Opéra de Paris, an event celebrating women’s empowerment and diversity through beauty. This year, a runway show unfolded in six different acts, each meant to highlight a different facet of beauty’s power, all working towards a goal of making beauty accessible and embodying its message – “Walk Your Worth.” L'Oréal brought out brand ambassadors and celebrities from around the world. We saw supermodels like Heidi Klum, Cara Delevingne, Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid. Actors Jane Fonda, Simone Ashley and Viola Davis took on new roles as models too. From overseas, Turkish actress Pinar Deniz, Chinese actress Tiffany Tang, and Thai actor PP Krit also took over the runway, creating global buzz.
Vogue World – Fashion’s Olympics
The fashion world’s Olympics – Vogue World – took place this year in Paris, one week before the actual Olympics drew fans from around the world to the French capital. Taking over the iconic Place Vendôme, Vogue World beautifully combined fashion and sports in acts each representing a decade from the 1920s to today. Standouts included the 1950s act, where Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner rode on horseback, an homage to the pair’s love of horses and their head-to-toe Hermès looks, as well as the 2000s act, which highlighted tennis. Superstars and power duo Serena and Venus Williams walked in Off-White and Marine Serre, respectively. To everyone’s surprise, rising pop icon Sabrina Carpenter walked in the 1940s act of the show, decked out in a custom retro-style red and white striped Jacquemus beach look.
Dries Van Noten Says Goodbye in Grandeur
When fashion icon and member of the so-called Antwerp Six announced in March that his last show would be this year, the industry braced for the sadness of his impending farewell. Van Noten’s aesthetic, one of the most highly-coveted in the fashion world, is all about blending luxury fabrics, patterns and genderless patterns. So, when he displayed his final collection in June, his 129th show and 150th collection of his 38-year career, the world was ready to experience what Van Noten had planned. The runway, unusually long and made up of silver-foil leaves, reflected onto looks that can only be described as classic Van Noten – unique fabrics, with interesting textures, styled in a way only Van Noten could achieve. Present at the show nobody wanted to end were industry heavyweights including Ann Demeulemeester, Pierpaolo Piccioli, Thom Browne, and Haider Ackermann; as for the models, the casting director tracked down models of Van Noten’s previous collections, including the opener of Van Noten’s first runway show in 1991. While we still don’t know who will take over the helm of Dries Van Noten, what we do know is that Van Noten’s finale left us emotional in all the right ways.
