Sofia Coppola's Priscilla: Fashion, Film, and Kering's Cinematic Ambitions

Sofia Coppola's film 'Priscilla' (released in US theaters November 3, 2023) explores the intersection of fashion and cinema, with Valentino's Pier Paolo Piccioli designing Elvis Presley's wardrobe. The film's costumes influenced Spring/Summer 2024 collections shown in London, Milan, and Paris. Kering, owner of Gucci, Saint Laurent, Balenciaga, and Valentino (recently acquired), has deepened its involvement in cinema: in September 2023 it acquired Creative Artists Agency, and in April 2023 launched Saint Laurent Productions, which debuted at Cannes with Pedro Almodóvar's latest film. Kering CEO François-Henri Pinault married Salma Hayek in 2017; Hayek starred in Ridley Scott's 'House of Gucci' (2021). Santo Versace, brother of Gianni, became a partner in Minerva Pictures in 2019, which won a César in Paris and Silver Bear at Berlinale in February 2023. The film's costume designer Stacey Battat used clothing to trace Priscilla Presley's psychological evolution: schoolgirl cardigans and pleated skirts (also seen at Miu Miu), blue mini-dresses (echoed by Kenzo, Prada, Versace, Gucci, Michael Kors, Valentino), and later floral prints (Balmain, Simone Rocha, Emilia Wickstead, Zimmermann) and trousers (Nina Ricci, Vivetta). The soundtrack opens with Alice Coltrane's 'Going Home' blending into Ramones' cover of The Ronettes' 'Baby, I Love You'. LVMH appointed musician Pharrell Williams as head of Louis Vuitton menswear.