Backstage Beauty at Elephant Princess in Paris

Photographer Thomas Lizzi takes us backstage at emerging brand Elephant and Princess showing off schedule during Paris Haute Couture Week.

Backstage is where the real drama hums just beneath the silk and sequins. Heels are kicked off and slipped back on, and a dozen hands adjust a gown that took hundreds of hours to make, all in the space of seconds. Models move between makeup chairs and mirrors, faces serene while nerves flicker in their eyes, as dressers hover close. There’s the sharp scent of hairspray, the rustle of lace, the low murmurs in several languages. It’s chaotic, intimate, and strangely sacred before couture steps out into the Parisian runway.

For Spring Summer 2026, founder Vivian Lee draws inspiration from Ganesha, a symbol of wisdom and silent guidance, the collection translates this presence into subtle couture gestures. Titled Wings of Ganesha, the work distills the essence of invisible support and quiet strength, favoring intuition over control and confidence over display. Symbolic references are found in wings, butterflies, and talismanic details among the feathered volumes gently define the shoulders, embroidery shimmers like reflected light, and lace textures that make up the collection.