In the middle of Paris Fashion Week, it can be hard to know where to turn your attention. Anthony Vaccarello made it easy. His gilded Saint Laurent spring/summer 2027 collection quickly became the talk of the town, thanks to all those 24-karat Le Smoking jackets parading in front of the Eiffel Tower. On the front row? Laura Harrier, a seasoned pro on the Saint Laurent show circuit. Before she took her seat, the actor and model filled us in on how she gets ready, starting with that all-important pre-show fuel: “Usually just a glass of champagne and chicken fingers – the best food to eat during glam.”
For her look that night, she paired a silk off-the-shoulder minidress with the classics: “A good pair of sunglasses and a classy Saint Laurent point-toe heel.” It’s the kind of simple yet sexy formula that Harrier has long had a soft spot for. “Anthony is so incredible at creating silhouettes and looks that feel familiar, but are actually totally innovative and elevated,” she says between sips. “And I just always feel really powerful and good and strong when I wear his clothes.” Topping off the look was a typically tiny bag, another classic for Harrier. This time, it was the satin mini Le 5 à 7, which contained two fashion week essentials: a lip gloss and a Listerine strip.
After moving to New York to pursue modelling at the age of 17, Harrier has spent years immersed in the world of fashion, but long before the photo shoots and front-row seats, that love of getting dressed was already there. Her earliest fashion memory revolves around a Cinderella costume worn until it fell apart. “I wore it every single day as a child. My mom even let me wear it to school; I loved it so much and every picture of me as a toddler is in a Cinderella costume.”
As she got older, her references became a little less fairytale. “The ’90s supermodels were huge for me,” she says, as well as an “incredibly chic aunt” who, alongside magazines of the early aughts, she cites as a formative influence. These days, her approach is more pared back. “I’m always obsessed with a good pair of jeans, and Saint Laurent does make really good ones. I usually alternate between those or a classic vintage Levi’s. I’m just really obsessed with basics. A perfect T-shirt is really good.”
Harrier’s tips and tricks for fashion week are also firmly rooted in the basics: “I think just sleep when you can, take your vitamins. I got a B12 shot today, which really helped.” In the middle of a hectic schedule, even shopping takes a back seat, but Harrier does have her eye on one thing: “A pair of bright blue Charvet slippers.” Admittedly, they’re not the most practical purchase. “You can’t really wear them outside; they’re a really expensive house shoe.” But after a week of Saint Laurent party heels, a pair of plush house slippers might be exactly what she needs.
