Celebrities at Paris Fashion Week: Serena Williams and Adriana Lima attend Balmain show


Farah Andrews
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Paris Fashion Week kicked-off in style on Monday with a star-packed Off-White catwalk and front row, followed by a day of chic offerings from Dior and Saint Laurent on Tuesday, and a showcase from Balmain on Wednesday.

Among the famous faces sitting front row for Balmain were tennis ace Serena Williams and Victoria's Secret model Adriana Lima.

Williams debuted a sleek blonde bob, which she paired with a velvet bottle green structured blazer and dark sunglasses, while Lima wore a black funnel-neck column dress by the house.

Victoria Beckham attended Tuesday's Saint Laurent show with her son Romeo and his model girlfriend, Mia Regan. Other stars in attendance at the Eiffel Tower-set show included Demi Moore, Amber Valletta and Abbey Lee Kershaw.

Spice Girl-turned-designer, Beckham, wore a pair of red PVC trousers of her own design to the Saint Laurent show, paired with a purple jumper.

Over at the Dior show, Jisoo from Blackpink had jetted into the French capital for the catwalk spectacular, wearing a yellow Cher Horowitz-style chequered dress over a white shirt and black tie.

The K-pop star was named a global ambassador of fashion and beauty for the French luxury fashion house in 2021.

Also on the Dior front row was Rihanna, in a sheer black dress, and actress Anya Taylor-Joy in an embellished Dior dress under a 1960s-style heavy wool coat worn as a cape.

On Monday, Bella Hadid, Serena Williams and Cindy Crawford walked in the Off-White show, while Rihanna, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, Fai Khadra and Carla Bruni watched from the front row, as the offerings from Virgil Abloh's final collection were presented.

Williams posted a heartfelt message about the show on Instagram: "Dearest @virgilabloh, today’s [Off-White] show was amazing.

"The setting, scene, talent, music and most importantly, the clothes, were fire. Your team crushed it. But you know that already, you see everything all at once where you are — all is one. Your family was there shining, reflecting your light. Anyone looking for you knows to look up at night, for the star that is Off-White. Thanks for having us."

The Happy rapper posted photos with wife Helen Lasichanh and son Rocket Ayer Williams, 13, along with photos from the show and images of the “Question Everything” flag which was presented during the show.

Supermodel sisters Bella and Gigi Hadid, both close friends of Abloh, took part in the show, alongside Kendall Jenner and Kaia Gerber. Gerber's supermodel mother Cindy Crawford also made an appearance. Helena Christensen and Amber Valletta also walked the catwalk.

There are a whole host of A-list names in Paris for fashion week, who are expected to be spotted on the front rows of The Row, Rochas, Balmain, Chloe, Isabel Marant, Vivienne Westwood, Elie Saab, Balenciaga, Valentino, Stella McCartney, Louis Vuitton, Miu Miu and Chanel, all of which are all showing later in the week.

See highlights from the star-studded Off-White Paris catwalk show here:

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How tumultuous protests grew
  • A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
  • Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved 
  • Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
  • At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
  • Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars 
  • Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
  • An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital 
Racecard

6.35pm: The Madjani Stakes – Group 2 (PA) Dh97,500 (Dirt) 1,900m 

7.10pm: Evidenza – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,200m 

7.45pm: The Longines Conquest – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 2,000m 

8.20: The Longines Elegant – Conditions (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 

8.35pm: The Dubai Creek Mile – Listed (TB) Dh132,500 (D) 1,600m 

9.30pm: Mirdif Stakes – Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,400m 

10.05pm: The Longines Record – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,900m  

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Quick facts on cancer
  • Cancer is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, after cardiovascular diseases 
  •  About one in five men and one in six women will develop cancer in their lifetime 
  • By 2040, global cancer cases are on track to reach 30 million 
  • 70 per cent of cancer deaths occur in low and middle-income countries 
  • This rate is expected to increase to 75 per cent by 2030 
  • At least one third of common cancers are preventable 
  • Genetic mutations play a role in 5 per cent to 10 per cent of cancers 
  • Up to 3.7 million lives could be saved annually by implementing the right health
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  • The total annual economic cost of cancer is $1.16 trillion

   

Results

2.30pm: Park Avenue – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Dirt) 2,000m; Winner: Rb Seqondtonone, Abdul Aziz Al Balushi (jockey), Helal Al Alawi (trainer)

3.05pm: Al Furjan – Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,200m; Winner: Bosphorus, Dane O’Neill, Bhupat Seemar

3.40pm: Mina – Rated Condition (TB) Dh105,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Royal Mews, Tadhg O’Shea, Bhupat Seemar

4.15pm: Aliyah – Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (T) 1,900m; Winner: Ursa Minor, Ray Dawson, Ahmad bin Harmash

4.50pm: Riviera Beach – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 2,200m; Winner: Woodditton, Saif Al Balushi, Ahmad bin Harmash

5.25pm: Riviera – Handicap (TB) Dh2,000 (T) 2,000m; Winner: Al Madhar, Antonio Fresu, Musabah Al Muhairi

6pm: Creek Views – Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Al Salt, Dane O’Neill, Erwan Charpy

Updated: March 03, 2022, 2:36 PM