As pervasive a pop culture moment as any, we all have the image of Paris Hilton dancing down the runway in a white tank top that reads, “Stop Being Poor” irrevocably ingrained in our minds.
While the moment in question may not have happened that way, Vetements creative director Guram Gvasalia has put a subversive spin on the snarky slogan tee, sending one down the runway that reads, “Stop Being Rich.”
Presenting the label’s Spring/Summer 2023 ready-to-wear collection during Paris Haute Couture Week, models strutted down the concrete halls of the soon-to-be-demolished Tati store in Pigalle, Paris. Emblazoning other pieces with “Mother Nature” and “I’m not doing s*** today,” Vetements continued to embrace the cheeky Noughties trend.
With voluminously curled rose-hued hair, one particular model took to the catwalk in a pair of blue jeans, a the white statement tee reading, “Stop Being Rich,” a bubblegum pink fur-trimmed cascading robe, a shimmering rhinestone chocker, and a black shield shade to complete the look.
If our clothes could speak, what would they say? While the era of the early-aughts became synonymous with its innate excess and campy nature, sassy slogan tees rocked by Hilton, Britney Spears, and more, “Stop Being Desperate,” …or “Stop Being Poor,” came to define the trend.
Hilton originally took her famous dance down the runway in 2005 for the launch of her sister Nicky‘s clothing label Chick. The Paris In Love star appeared in a rose-pink ombré maxi-skirt, strappy black sandals, and a white tank that actually read, “Stop Being Desperate.”
The heiress took to Instagram reels last May to set the record straight. “So there’s this photo online of me,” she says in front of the image. “I’m sure you’ve seen it. I never wore that shirt. This was completely photoshopped. Everyone thinks it’s real, but that’s not the truth.” Closing out the video on the note, “Don’t believe everything you read.”
