Irina Shayk Defends Lions’ Head Gown She & Kylie Jenner Wore

Kylie Jenner
Schiaparelli show, Arrivals, Haute Couture Fashion Week, Paris, France - 23 Jan 2023 — Image Credit: Shutterstock

Claws out! Irina Shayk fiercely fought criticism of one in every of her seems from Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. The style home Schiaparelli confronted main backlash after debuting a gown that featured a frighteningly lifelike duplicate of a lion’s head on the entrance. A model of the robe, which Irina modeled on the runway, was additionally worn by Kylie Jenner, forward of the present on Jan. 23, 2023.

Though the fake lion was made solely of material, resin paint, and foam, individuals have been nonetheless up in arms. Many claimed the black velvet column gown and imitation taxidermy nonetheless glorified poaching and pelts, regardless of behind cruelty-free.

Irina Shayk, Kylie Jenner — Irina Shayk (left) and Kylie Jenner (proper) each donned variations of a controversial Schiaparelli gown throughout Paris Haute Couture Fashion Week. (David Fisher/Shutterstock)

But Irina made certain to defend the creators behind the piece in a Jan. 23, 2023 Instagram put up. “I support these incredible artists who worked tirelessly, with their hands, using wool, silk, and foam, to sculpt this embroidered Lion, and image of Pride,” the mannequin mother-of-one wrote.

“An image that @schiaparelli invokes while exploring themes of strength. I am honored to have been called on as well to lend my art as a woman to this.” She tagged the style home’s artistic director Daniel Rosenberry within the tribute.

Her carousel of images confirmed the workforce of designers and couturiers who labored numerous hours on the robe. The put up additionally featured idea sketches of the robe, in addition to behind-the-scenes snaps from fittings and close-up particulars of her footwear, which regarded like darkish ft with gold toenails.

Schiaparelli additionally defended its design on-line, noting “no animals were harmed in making this look.” The piece was “hand-sculpted foam [and] wool and silk faux fur, and hand-painted to look as life-like as possible, celebrating the glory of the natural world.”

Model/animal activist Christie Brinkley was one of many gown’ many detractors, describing the look as “sickening” and a “fashion faux paw” in an Instagram remark reported by Newsweek. She shared, “It looks as though the models picked up the cruel hunters’ carpet and severed head wrapped them around themselves to be viewed as a stylish thing of beauty … pelts are a symbol of human’s cruelty and ignorance.”