The Striking Leather Ensemble, Designed by Jeanne Friot, Opens the Latest Chapter of ‘la Mode en Mouvement’ at Palais Galliera
February 7, 2025 – Fashion Exhibition, Palais Galliera
A gleaming figure on horseback, cutting through the grand spectacle of the Paris 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony—one of the night’s most striking images. Clad in sculptural leather, the Silver Rider became an instant icon, commanding the stadium atop a metallic steed. Now, this futuristic armor steps off the global stage and into the archives of fashion history.
Starting February 8, Palais Galliera will exhibit the Silver Rider’s leather ensemble, the only piece from the ceremony to enter its collection. Designed by Jeanne Friot, in collaboration with leather specialist Robert Mercier and Both for the towering boots, the piece opens the final chapter of La Mode en Mouvement, an exhibition tracing fashion’s relationship with movement, performance, and athleticism.
“This was the only piece we decided to keep from the Games,” explains Marie-Laure Gutton, the exhibition’s curator. “It embodies both the Olympic spirit and contemporary fashion. Jeanne Friot is a rising force in Parisian fashion, and pairing her vision with expert leather craftsmanship made this an essential addition to our collection.”
The decision cements the Silver Rider’s look as a testament to how fashion operates at the intersection of strength, movement, and spectacle.
For Friot, the honor is as exhilarating as it is unexpected.
“It’s surreal to enter a museum before 30,” she says. “And to have my work at Galliera, in a space that celebrates my industry? That means everything.”
From Olympic Armor to Alpine Elegance
This third installment of La Mode en Mouvement dives into how fashion has evolved alongside sport. The exhibition shifts focus to winter sportswear, tracing its transformation from early 20th-century necessity to a symbol of technical refinement.
Visitors will see how ski attire became both functional and aspirational. Armand Allard’s streamlined fuseau pants revolutionized movement on the slopes in the 1930s, while couture houses redefined après-ski elegance. The final section embraces reinvention, showcasing avant-garde pieces like Jean Paul Gaultier’s strapless puffer gown and Walter Van Beirendonck’s high-energy ski ensembles.
Palais Galliera underscores how fashion and movement intertwine by placing the Silver Rider’s armor within this narrative, on the slopes, in stadiums, and on the world’s most-watched stage. A fleeting Olympic moment now finds permanence, securing its place in fashion history.
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