Belgian designer Julie Kegels' spring 2027 runway show has sparked online criticism after a model appeared in pale orange tights with an unusually low crotch seam. Viewers questioned the garment's comfort and practicality, while others found the exaggerated proportions amusing.
Footage of the look, paired with a metallic short-sleeved top, circulated online after Kegels presented her collection at Paris Fashion Week on 28 September 2026. The tights featured a crotch seam that extended well below the hips, leaving loose fabric visible between the model's legs as she walked.
Instagram Users React to Unusual Runway Look
The design prompted sharply different reactions in comments reproduced by Australian news outlet news.com.au. One viewer wrote, 'I feel so UNCOMFORTABLE watching this,' while another asked, 'How do people keep a straight face at these shows, honestly WTAF.'
Another described it as the 'Funniest thing I have ever seen in fashion.' A commenter called the tights a 'tripping hazard', expressing concern about how the extra fabric might affect movement. Others suggested the longer fit could appeal to tall shoppers who have trouble finding suitable hosiery.
The circulating footage does not show the model stumbling or struggling to complete the walk. The comments reflect reactions to the particular runway look rather than a verified assessment of its safety. The individual Instagram comment links have not been independently authenticated.
Julie Kegels Explores Gravity in Apple of the Day
The collection, titled Apple of the Day, explored gravity through garments designed to slip, stretch or hang away from the body. Grey trousers opened the presentation with a crotch extending towards the knees. Elsewhere, skirts sat low on the hips, dresses shifted off the shoulders and small weights pulled fabric downwards.
The title draws on the familiar story of Isaac Newton's gravitational discovery involving an apple. Kegels' show notes described clothing being pulled towards the earth or floating upwards, with heaviness and lightness shaping the designs. The presentation also included denim capes, leather shift dresses and airy organza gowns.
The designer wrote in her show notes about balancing the demands of building a company with the enjoyment that prompted her to begin designing. She described the period since the previous March as bringing more people, opportunities and responsibility. The clothes explored falling in both physical and figurative forms.
Kegels' show notes described the challenge of preserving the pleasure of designing while managing a growing fashion business. The runway explored contrasts between structured pieces and softer materials, with leather and denim offering different effects from translucent organza. The deliberately altered fits were presented alongside conventional garment categories, including trousers, skirts and dresses.
Designer Wins 2026 LVMH Prize Ahead of Paris Show
Kegels won the 2026 LVMH Prize for Young Fashion Designers at the Fondation Louis Vuitton on 4 September. The award includes €400,000 and one year of mentorship from LVMH experts. Actress Jennifer Lawrence presented her with the prize.
The Belgian designer graduated from Antwerp's Royal Academy of Fine Arts, gained experience at Alaïa and launched her namesake womenswear label in 2024. Her Paris show followed the prize announcement by just over three weeks. The official prize profile describes her work as combining sculptural silhouettes, artisanal techniques and sustainable materials, drawing on personal memories and modern life.
Kegels opened Paris Fashion Week's spring/summer 2027 runway schedule on 28 September 2026. The show arrived in a season when Paris labels were presenting collections for the following spring and summer, and marked one of Kegels' first major presentations after receiving the prize.
The LVMH Prize final took place at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Kegels received the main award, while Zane Li of Lii won the Karl Lagerfeld Prize and Anil Padia of Yoshita 1967 received the Savoir-Faire Prize. Each award recognises a different emerging fashion business, with the main prize carrying the largest cash award of the three.
