“It’s Giving Hunger Games”: Paris Fashion Week Stirs Up Controversy With Boundary-Breaking Show
Paris Fashion Week is always full of fashion that breaks boundaries, designers who create unforgettable experiences, and garments that feel like they belong in a museum.
The Faeces Spring/Summer 2026 show, which took place on October 1, marked the sophomore show of designer duo Hannah Rose Dalton and Steven Raj Bhaskaran.
- Matières Fécales showcased their Spring/Summer 2026 romantic-goth collection, blending dark elements with softer, rose-inspired details.
- One of the two designers, Hannah Rose Dalton, opened the show herself as the muse in a blush pink hourglass two-piece set.
- The runway featured friends of the brand instead of professional models, with outfits accessorized by Stephen Jones hats and Christian Louboutin heels.
- The unconventional designs sparked widespread criticism and mockery on social media, with one user writing, “I always wondered what it would look like in hell.”
While the show had several big-name fashion figures in attendance, including Christian Louboutinnetizens were far from impressed.
“It’s not fashion at this point, it’s some strange deconstruction of style…” wrote one social media user.
Matières Fécales showcased their Spring/Summer 2026 romantic-goth collection at their sophomore show during Paris Fashion Week
Model with avant-garde makeup posing in pink satin outfit against a backdrop of pink roses at Paris Fashion Week show.
Image credits: Immem0
Hannah and Steven, who made their debut in the fashion world with their inaugural runway collection in March, presented their romantic-goth-inspired designs at the 17th-century Hôtel d’Évreux in the French capital.
The outfits drew inspiration from Alexander McQueen’s signature silhouettes but featured a distinctive spin of their own.
On display were dramatic looks with ruching, tailored bodices, semi-sheer mermaid gowns, voluminous skirts, tutu dresses, and pink rose detailing blended with black ensembles.
The show was opened by Dalton herself, who also served as the muse for the collection.
She strutted down the indoor runway in a blush-pink satin blazer with wide shoulder pads, frayed sleeve hems, and a cinched waistline that flared outward at the bottom, mimicking an hourglass shape.
The blazer was paired with a matching fitted midi skirt, her signature white-out makeup, and pink satin high heels.
Hannah Rose Dalton served as the muse of the collection and opened the show herself in an hourglass two-piece set
Model with avant-garde makeup and hairstyle showcasing boundary-breaking Paris Fashion Week look inspired by Hunger Games.
Image credits: Immem0
Typically, Hannah and Steven’s designs have been described as embodying a dark, ghoulish beauty, which is especially popular among the brand’s goth community fanbase.
The show, titled A Rose is a Rosewas an unexpected blend of dark elements and softer touches, incorporating the rose as its central motif.
Before the show began, Dalton shared in a backstage interview the main theme of the latest collection.
The designer explained that instead of focusing on a “Gothic, scary” aesthetic, this time the emphasis was on “prettiness.”
“A lot of people see us and maybe our community as very harsh, Gothic, scary, ugly — all those types of words are what we always hear. So for us, this was just about showing the prettiness.”
“It should be called Paris Freak Week!” commented one netizen.
The collection titled, A Rose is a Rose, was inspired by classic Alexander McQueen silhouettes
Model in bold black outfit and dramatic makeup posing during a Paris Fashion Week show stirring controversy.
Image credits: Immem0
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Screenshot of a tweet reading Its giving Hunger Games in response to a comment on Paris Fashion Week controversy.
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Several of the looks at the event were paired with stunning and unique hats designed by milliner Stephen Jones.
All the edgy, oddly shaped, sky-high heels worn by the models were created by Christian Louboutin.
Notably, the outfits were modeled by friends of the label, which is part of the brand development division of Dover Street Market Paris.
Familiar faces included Colin Jones in a feathery dress and British social media star and arteriovenous malformation advocate Nikki Lilly in a black corset tulle dress, among others.
Model in sheer pink attire with dramatic floral headpiece, reflecting Paris Fashion Week’s boundary-breaking Hunger Games vibe.
Image credits: FASHION @fashionvdo/YouTube
Shedding light on Matières Fécales’ decision not to cast professional models, Bhaskaran explained that it was a conscious choice to challenge the fashion industry’s rigid norms.
“In some landscapes… people like us aren’t really welcome, so it’s actually about taking that obstacle and turning it into something that’s beautiful.”
The outfits sparked comparisons online, with many saying they gave off Hunger Games or Star Wars vibes
Model with long black hair wearing a red face mask and oversized jacket at Paris Fashion Week boundary-breaking show.
Image credits: Immem0
Tweet from user MadMan saying Not One Human In Sight, posted at 12:47 AM Oct 3, 2025 about Paris Fashion Week Hunger Games controversy.
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Tweet criticizing a fashion piece, referencing Paris Fashion Week and its boundary-breaking Hunger Games-inspired show.
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However, the decision seemed to backfire on social media, as several models appeared to struggle on the runway due to their lack of experience walking in high heels, something even professionals often find challenging.
Whether it was a conscious choice or an in-the-moment blunder, the walks came across as awkward and uncomfortable on camera.
Netizens mocked the entire show, from the fashion to the runway walks, sarcastically criticizing the brand.
“I’m convinced the models are just literally demons,” wrote one user online.
Model wearing avant-garde sheer black fabric with large pink flower at Paris Fashion Week stirring Hunger Games buzz.
Image credits: FASHION @fashionvdo/YouTube
Another chimed in, “Paris Fashion should be renamed for what it actually is now….. Paris Fetish Week.”
A third added, “Is it just me or does everyone of those models look like they are a whisper away from just melting down and ending it all?”
Some users also targeted the casting of Nikki Lilly, who has a visibly swollen face due to a rare medical condition called high-flow craniofacial arteriovenous malformation.
Instead of professional models, friends and acquaintances of the two designers walked the runway
Model with white face paint wearing floral avant-garde dress at a boundary-breaking Paris Fashion Week show inspired by Hunger Games.
Image credits: FASHION @fashionvdo/YouTube
One user wrote, “I had no idea they celebrated Halloween in Paris…” while another commented, “20 yrs ago models were glamorous.”
Following the actual show, the afterparty was open to the general public, which the brand announced on their Instagram Story.
The message encouraged guests to showcase their personalities in any way they desired, expressing themselves “with no boundaries or limits.”
Paris Fashion Week 😳 pic.twitter.com/8SVNPkmseR
— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) October 3, 2025
While the unconventional show aimed to do something different, social media users mocked it for resembling the fashion of notable Hollywood franchises like the Hunger Games and Star Wars.
However, a few defended the label for “making fashion interesting again.”
“i can’t take fecales name seriously, but they been having a good a** collection so far.”
“They can’t actually design clothing that a normal person might want to wear,” complained one social media user
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Tweet criticizes Paris Fashion Week’s boundary-breaking show, comparing it to Hunger Games with style deconstruction and public backlash.
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Screenshot of a tweet criticizing a parody, highlighting controversy during Paris Fashion Week Hunger Games-inspired show.
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Tweet from The Gas Can about models, highlighting controversy and boundary-breaking moments at Paris Fashion Week.
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Tweet from user Wolfbyte1966 commenting on Halloween celebrations in Paris, highlighting Paris Fashion Week controversy.
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Tweet by user ChrisRehm expressing frustration about not getting a modeling job amid Paris Fashion Week controversy.
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Tweet discussing a civilization’s collapse, reflecting on chaos as Paris Fashion Week stirs up controversy with Hunger Games theme.
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