While fans love to see Billy Idol, 70, on a concert stage, they were just as thrilled to spot him on the runway during Paris Fashion Week.
“A Rebel Yell of surprise rang out across Palais de Tokyo on Saturday evening as legendary rocker Billy Idol made an unexpected catwalk appearance at Paris Fashion Week,” according to the Daily Mail. “The reformed hellraiser claimed the spotlight as Belgian designer Ann Demeulemeester previewed her latest fall-winter collection in the French capital.”
GettyAs a part of Creative Director Stefano Gallici’s “Dear Night Thoughts” collection, Idol was “dressed in a tasselled leather cape, black waistcoat and ruff collared shirt,” and “inevitably stole the show after joining the ranks of younger models on the Paris catwalk,” per the Daily Mail.
The official Ann Demeulemeester Instagram account shared a video of Idol walking on the runway, prompting one follower to call it the “coolest move ever.”
Another person added, “Iconic!!!!”
“Excellent choice 🖤🖤🖤,” came from a third fan.
Someone else left a comment, saying, “This is beyond cool!”
Billy Idol Shared Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the Event
Following the event, i-D and Idol shared a joint Instagram post offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the music industry icon participating in the show. The post included photos and videos showing the star posing with his planned look, arriving for his runway appearance, talking with others backstage, signing an autograph, getting prepped and much more.
In the caption, i-D wrote, “Look 32, baby!! @billyidol takes us along for his walk at @anndemeulemeester_official’s FW26 show at Paris Fashion Week.”
Ann Demeulemeester Is a ‘Sanctuary for the Fashionably Restless’
A surprise appearance by Idol at the Ann Demeulemeester Fall/Winter 2026 show was the perfect addition to an event that “proved that the brand remains a singular sanctuary for the fashionably restless,” according to Hypebae. It also showed that “Gallici has successfully transformed the label into a magnet for a fresh community of creatives who value his specific take on romantic, rock-inflected attire over rigid archival imitation or content-frenzied crowds.”
Beyond that, Hypebae notes that “[t]he atmosphere was deeply rooted in the brand’s historic dialogue with literature and music. A live performance by Beguiling Junior set a moody tone that incorporated the voice of Allen Ginsberg into the soundtrack. The runway itself bridged generations of cool as Billy Idol walked in a fringed leather cape while Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page watched from the front row alongside modern muses like Lourdes Leon and Tokischa.”
Hypebae explains that “[b]y blending the rebellious spirit of poets like Arthur Rimbaud with contemporary silhouettes, Gallici has ensured that Ann Demeulemeester is not just a legacy brand but a living projection of youth culture sometimes missed in mainstream fashion conversations.”
