Breaking news: an actual Zoolander moment has just happened at Paris fashion week, leaving po-faced insiders jumping and screaming “OMG!!” from the front row.
Fashion often accidentally imitates the seminal fashion film (see: David Gandy), but at the usually sedate Valentino show during Paris fashion week, a real-life walk-off took place between actors Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson. It’s thought the stunt was an official announcement for the sequel, Zoolander 2, whose release has been confirmed for February 2016, and whose plot will involve Zoolander’s overweight son, Derek Junior.
Just before the finale of womenswear show Stiller, AKA Derek Zoolander, strode out from one end of the catwalk wearing a dark blue suit embroidered with butterflies. To the strains of the Human League’s Don’t You Want Me, Wilson, in character as Hansel, strode from the opposite side of the horseshoe-shaped catwalk wearing blue silk printed pyjamas and shoulder-robing a tailored coat.
When the seasoned male models reached each other in front of the pit of photographers, Derek pulled out an incredible Blue Steel, which showed no signs of supermodel rust, despite the 14 years that have passed since the really, really ridiculously good-looking character first finessed it. Hansel could barely compete.
He then grabbed an iPhone from a member of the front row and performed a heroic selfie swagger down the catwalk. It seems Zoolander and Hansel now have a better grasp on technology than they did during the first film, when there was some confusion about how to get files out of the computer.
In the film, the walk-off is judged by David Bowie, but at Tuesday’s showthere appeared to be no judge, though Anna Wintour was surely a contender, particularly as she was seen enjoying a Zoolander photo sandwich with Derek and Hansel backstage. It was unclear whether Wintour or Derek would be the victor in a Blue Steel-off situation.
The fashion industry immediately erupted with praise on social media. The Guardian’s own reporters on the ground described it as “the best thing ever” and “the dream”. After all that excitement, let’s hope the sequel answers our remaining questions. Mainly, is the Derelicte look due a comeback? And where’s Mugatu?
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