An alternative perspective on Fashion Week
An off-duty alien at Thom Browne's Spring-Summer 2026 show during Paris Fashion Week.
By Jennifer Arnow, CNN; Photos by Cha Gonzalez
Published 10:09 AM EDT, Fri October 10, 2025
When you think of the fashion weeks that take place across New York, London, Milan, and Paris, what might come to mind are the models strutting down the runways. While showcasing new designs and selling the clothes is the primary focus of each show, there's a whole world of activity happening backstage, at off-site events, and among the audience that often goes unnoticed.
We sent Paris-based photographer Cha Gonzalez to capture the moments that are usually missed or edited out of traditional fashion week coverage, in favor of offering a more candid view. Here's what she saw at Stella McCartney, Yohji Yamamoto, Hermès, Valentino, and Thom Browne.
Stella McCartney.
Photographers and spectators outside Stella McCartney.
A close-up look at Stella McCartney.
Actor and film producer Robin Wright on the front row at Stella McCartney.
Model Alex Consani walks the Stella McCartney show.
The pseudonymous DJ HorsegiirL at Stella McCartney.
A look from Yohji Yamamoto's Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Yohji Yamamoto's show took place at its usual venue, the Hôtel de Ville.
Models getting ready backstage at Yohji Yamamoto.
Looks from the Yohji Yamamoto Spring-Summer 2026 show.
A close-up look at Yohji Yamamoto.
Looks from the Yohji Yamamoto Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Models getting ready backstage at Yohji Yamamoto.
Outside Hermès.
A guest attending Hermès.
Influencer twins Snehal and Jyoti Babani, and other guests, outside Hermès.
Outside Valentino.
Guests including the Thai singer and actor Jeff Satur and Anna Wintour attending Valentino.
Valentino.
The finale at Valentino.
Looks from Valentino's Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Photographer Caroline Grant and her sister, the singer-songwriter Lana Del Rey at Valentino.
A look from Valentino's Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Models getting ready backstage at Thom Browne.
Looks from the Thom Browne Spring-Summer 2026 show.
The Spring-Summer 2026 model lineup at Thom Browne.
Backstage at Thom Browne.
Singer-songwriter FKA Twigs at Thom Browne.
A look from Thom Browne's Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Models getting ready backstage at Thom Browne.
Backstage beauty at Thom Browne.
Looks from Thom Browne's Spring-Summer 2026 show.
Thom Browne.
