Not long ago, the Louvre unveiled its first major exhibition placing modern fashion within a broader timeline of the decorative arts. A spring 2019 Chanel Haute Couture skirt suit is positioned alongside an 18th-century commode that was said to have inspired the collection, while a Bambi-printed fall 2011 Jean-Charles de Castelbajac two-piece is displayed before a Bernard van Orley tapestry dating back to the 1500s. “Fashion is part of today’s popular culture, of visual culture,” said curator Olivier Gabet. “Lots of people feel in phase with fashion, and this is a way of inviting them in and letting them discover that they’re in phase with the museum, too.”
To wit: the Louvre last night held its own miniature Met Gala–Le Grand Dîner du Louvre–to fundraise for the exhibition. Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Keira Knightley, Jisoo, Doechii, Michelle Yeoh, and Gemma Chan were among the stars on a boldface guest list that also included David and Victoria Beckham. David wore a foulard-topped tuxedo, while Victoria was cinched into a stretch dress of her own making–its sweeping train proving hazardous when caught beneath the foot of an unsuspecting security guard. This particular design seems to be Victoria’s go-to when attending prestige functions. (See: the aubergine variation she wore for a state banquet at Buckingham Palace back in December.)
The couple’s arrival at the Louvre marked their latest incursion into the art world. Victoria recently debuted a curation of contemporary works at her Dover Street flagship in partnership with Sotheby’s–aligning her own pieces with those of Yoshitomo Nara, George Condo, Yves Klein and Keith Haring—during which she spoke at length about the art she and David had collected over the years. Fair enough: there comes a point when prestige celebrities begin to parlay their fame to allow them to pursue more “noble” avenues. (Kim Kardashian, for one, is still studying to be a criminal defence lawyer.) But to what end? To have their own legacies preserved in the history books? The Louvre could certainly hang a couple of Beckham portraits on its walls. Perhaps the moment they wore Gucci leathers to the opening of the Bond Street Versace store in 1999. Their eyes are said to follow you around the room.