The Spectacle of Pulling Strings

On March 8, Adelina Bernard took over Serpent à Plume at Place des Vosges during Paris Fashion Week to celebrate the launch of Spring / Summer 2026 Pulling Strings. The evening was conceived as an intimate spectacle, where the audience became part of the narrative.

The evening began with the first and largest spectacle: the presentation of Pulling Strings. Without warning, and without seating arrangements, the lights came on and the music began. Models, their faces concealed behind masks, appeared on top of the staircase. What followed felt less like a traditional fashion show and more like a theatrical performance. The puppets moved through the space, interacting with the audience – kissing them, pulling them closer, even taking their drinks. Guests were not merely spectators, but participants in the act itself. A sense of unease filled the room, reflecting the collection’s exploration of power and authorship. The final model appeared without a mask. Standing above the crowd on top of the staircase, the puppet master concluded the performance as the puppets bent to his will below.

“It was important that everything felt organic,” Alice and Menno explained. “We encouraged the models to embody their characters and behave as they wished. The last thing we wanted was something polished. We wanted the audience to feel discomfort—because only then do you reflect inward and ask yourself why.”