Alexis Stone on Her Epic Transformation Into Jocelyn Wildenstein

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This season, for Balenciaga's 2022 Haute Couture show, the London-based drag artist turned into Jocelyn Wildenstein, the American socialite known for her cosmetic procedures and catlike appearance.

Clad in a leopard-print catsuit and baggy textured coat, Stone turned heads as she entered the couture salons looking every bit as extravagant as Wildenstein herself, a character she and Balenciaga's creative director agreed upon previously.

"Demna is familiar with my previous bulks of work," she tells PAPER. "We had a conversation in New York after the show and decided it was time to revamp my homage to Jocelyn, a powerful woman I have admired and made nods towards throughout my work for years."

With tons of celebs on and off the runway for this outing, and Wildenstein's history as a big couture client, Stone's transformation decision was a no-brainer. "Jocelyn is a fashion icon and historically one of the largest buyers for Chanel Haute Couture working directly with Karl over the last 30 years," she explains.

The two have a very close relationship — Stone calls her "mother" and says they they talk frequently. ("We have a deep understanding, love and respect for one another," she says.)

Like all her fashion transformations, she describes the Wildenstein outing as a labor of love. Still, "the pressure to pay homage while making it technically possible with the limitations that come with practicality was a concern," she says. "But doing a respectful, slightly warped transformation is fitting in my work while sharing unconditional love towards someone I admire deeply."

As for the Balenciaga couture show that just wrapped ("It smelled like money," she says of the room), she had nothing but high remarks.

"Every time I attend the shows its a sensory overload," she says. "It's such a creative and forward-thinking brand that the emotions and feelings after are always incredible highs as it's shared with like-minded people. [It's] bonkers, bizarre — no one else is doing it but it feels appropriate and appreciated."

Photography: Perrine Mercier