Kim Kardashian Schiaparelli Couture Christmas
Image: Instagram @kimkardashian

When Kim Kardashian debuted her 2020 Christmas look, Twitter went into overdrive. She captioned the image (taken with sister Kylie Jenner, who wore red sequinned Bottega Veneta) “The Grinch and Santa”, but internet pundits were quick to dub the look an homage to The Hulk, or one of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Twitter roasts aside, Kim’s festive outfit was actually a remarkable piece of fashion craftsmanship: a couture design from the storied French fashion maison Schiaparelli.

Taking to Instagram, Schiaparelli’s creative director Daniel Roseberry revealed the painstaking process it took to create Kim’s custom gown. “The six-pack bodice is molded leather, rubbed to be Jaguar green,” he revealed. While “the skirt is absinthe silk velvet, and the oversized pendant earrings are a sneak peak at the next couture collection.” A behind-the-scenes video showed mask-wearing tailors adding finishing touches to the gown at the brand’s Parisian atelier, including the remarkable drapery of the knotted silk skirt.

34-year-old Texas native Roseberry made a name for himself designing ready-to-wear at Thom Browne, before being nabbed to replace Bertrand Guyon as Schiaparelli artistic director last April. His debut was widely acclaimed—a fact all the more remarkable considering he had never designed in an haute couture atelier before, and didn’t speak a word of French. In the intervening eighteen months, the brand has gone from strength to strength—continuing to capture the magical, surrealist aesthetic that made the brand’s founder, Elsa Schiaparelli (a contemporary of Coco Chanel who died in 1973), one of the most important designers of her time.

Kim heaped praise on Roseberry, writing on Instagram: “A special thanks to Daniel Roseberry for my amazing gown that made me feel festive this year, even though our Christmas Eve party was cancelled. It was perfect to dress up and celebrate with just the fam [sic.] this year.” Hulk cosplay or not, you can’t deny Kim’s power to make a bold fashion statement. We’re green with envy.