Runway model Anok Yai’s unexpected sprint down the catwalk at the Vetements Paris Fashion Week show transformed a beautiful presentation into a viral cultural moment. Initially intended to portray the collection’s bride, Yai’s impromptu dash back towards the escalators left audiences and the online fashion community stunned. The incident was quickly dubbed the “Fashion Show Runaway Bride” moment.
Yai took to social media to clarify the situation, explaining that her actions were entirely unplanned. She hadn’t intended to embody a “runaway bride” persona, as many had assumed. In an X (formerly Twitter) post and a detailed Instagram caption, she revealed the original plan: a graceful walk down the runway, a poised pose for the cameras, followed by a staged reunion with Travis Scott, Gigi Hadid, and Vetements designer Guram Gvasalia at the catwalk’s end.
The reality, however, was far different.
Yai explained that the weight of the wedding dress, coupled with insufficiently high heels, led to repeated tripping incidents. As she navigated the runway, her heel kept catching on the dress, becoming increasingly noticeable.
Anok Yai's unplanned runaway bride moment at Vetements Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2025.
Forced to lift the dress to avoid further mishaps, Yai felt her elegant bridal demeanor slipping away. In a split-second decision, she embraced the chaos and transitioned into a “defiant bride” character, impulsively running backstage.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Yai tearfully sought out Gvasalia to apologize for potentially ruining the show. To her relief, the designer’s response was not one of anger but of admiration. He exclaimed, “How did you think of that?!” Yai praised Gvasalia’s artistic spirit, calling him “the artist’s artist.”
Supermodel Gigi Hadid, also involved in the show, commented on Yai’s Instagram post, expressing her initial belief that the run was a planned part of the performance. Hadid praised Yai’s quick thinking and stunning presence.
Beyond the “runaway bride” incident, the Vetements show itself was a remarkable display of fashion. The collection featured a compelling blend of playful and serious elements, ranging from DHL and duct tape bandage dresses to a newspaper-print dress featuring a mock edition of The Sun with the headline “A New Sun Is Rising Today.” The show encompassed a range of styles: grungy, optimistic, sexy, and everything in between.
