UPON entering St. Paul’s Churchyard in Covent Garden, attendees of Eudon Choi’s spring-summer 2024 runway show were greeted with a picturesque, scenic setting.
Choi’s SS24 collection, titled Chasing Butterflies, takes inspiration from the brand’s resort 2024 offering and the work of Berthe Morisot – the esteemed Impressionist painter. As the bells of the church rang out, the scene was set for an exquisite runway presentation.
Known for his effortless ability to combine masculine tailoring with feminine sensibility, the designer invited the audience into a world of light, grace and elegance.
Morisot is renowned for her ability to depict ephemeral, banal moments in everyday life with a beautiful, alluring charm.
Portraying scenes from bourgeoisie households, intimate gardens and the domestic lives of women in the 19th century, Morisot captured the essence of Parisian life through her transient masterpieces. Drawing upon such themes for inspiration, Choi’s SS24 show aimed to transport the audience to a peaceful, tranquil summer day.
Combining form-fitting, satin pieces with more opaque, geometric counterparts, the collection imitates the gentle contrasts present in Morisot’s work. Pairing lights with darks, neutral tones with vibrant hues and implicit forms against explicit counterparts, the collection pays homage to the pioneering work of the Impressionist painter.
Despite being known for her accurate-to-life depictions, Morisot also explored abstraction in her work. Ignoring traditional rules of naturalistic painting, Morisot preferred to experiment with capturing the atmosphere and ambience of a moment or setting.
One can spot abstracted floral patterns and prints scattered throughout the brand’s latest collection – a testimony of Choi’s affinity with Morisot’s practice.
Furthermore, subtle lace detailing works perfectly alongside structured, refined pieces to demonstrate the fragile equilibrium between vulnerability and power. Meanwhile, gentle lines emerge from the designer’s careful use of draping and sculptural contouring techniques.
The accessories of the collection further aid the fleeting, evanescent nature of the collection. Collaborating with Louis Quatorze for the fourth time, the models carried sophisticated, smart handbags as they walked around the churchyard.
Founded by Paul Barrate in the 1980s, the French luxury brand aims to create pieces that encapsulate the grandeur of French Nobility – a collaboration made in heaven in relation to this collection’s themes.
The casting of the show proved to be another highlight amongst attendees. With the notorious Korean model Choi Miae coming out of retirement to grace the runway with her presence, the spectators were left perpetually impressed by the selection of faces.
Additionally, the models sported natural, fresh makeup looks – a nod to Eudon Choi’s partnership with the Korean skincare brand, Laneige. Intertwining contemporary minimalism with delicate refinement, the SS24 offering demonstrated Choi’s timeless appeal.
by Sophie Richardson