Inside Paris Hilton's Infinite Icon Experience
By Justin Moran
Oct 30, 2024Paris Hilton has had plenty of iconic nights, but the Infinite Icon Experience “was the most iconic one yet,” she tells PAPER. The extreme multi-hyphenate took over Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium on Thursday, October 24 following the release of her sophomore album, Infinite Icon. A celebration of Hilton’s many personas, the show was designed to capture her life story on stage and throughout the venue (there was even a Sliving Bar on-site). To achieve this, Hilton pulled in a team of “longtime creative partners,” who she says helped “bring it all to life through music, movement, color and, of course, iconic fashion.”
Mikey Minden, Hilton’s show director, says he wanted to highlight Hilton’s personal evolution over five different acts, “from the shimmering fantasy of ‘Diamond Princess’ to the high-energy glamour of ‘Queen of the Night,’ through the bold edge of ‘Boss Babe’ and into the ethereal elegance of ‘Supreme Goddess.’” The production closed with “The Infinite Icon,” which Minden says portrayed Hilton’s past and future colliding in neon lights. “Every look captures the essence of her journey,” he says, “pushing the boundaries of style and self expression.”
Hilton’s costumer and stylist Sammy Kassaie was also critical to the Infinite Icon Experience, saying she “envisioned a dazzling spectacle where [Paris’] iconic monochromatic themes would distinctly separate each act.” Backup dancers further amplified this mission, “like perfect Ken doll clones,” Kassaie adds, broken into the five acts that mirrored “pivotal chapters of Paris’ life.” Between Hilton, who’s “the ultimate muse,” and Minden, the collaboration process was “an awe-inspiring, unforgettable journey” for Kassaie.”
And Hilton agrees. “We packed so much meaning into every single detail to make sure every moment slayed,” she says, reflecting on the night. “Putting it all together in front of so many fans felt like pure magic.” Below, Kassaie breaks down the glittery Infinite Icon Experience for PAPER, act by act.
"For the opening act (Act I), we needed a powerful, bold color to make an unforgettable statement. Naturally, we chose Paris' signature pink, drawing inspiration from her younger days. Partnering with Michael Ngo, we crafted the epitome of a Barbie pop princess ensemble, drenched in a gradient of ombre pink Swarovski crystals that shimmered with every move."
"Act II catapulted us into the glitzy world of early 2000s New York, capturing Paris as the ultimate socialite and queen of Y2K club culture. Here, she dazzled in a custom Michael Schmidt creation — a silver crystal mesh Swarovski outfit complete with matching crystal-studded boots, choker and gloves."
"For Act III, Paris wanted to channel an edgier darker vibe, reflecting her powerful boss babe persona, while still keeping it fun and sexy. We turned to La Roxx to design a custom black leather and lace ensemble. After discussions with Mikey, we had the dancers adopt a biker-gang aesthetic, clad in black leather, adding a moto-inspired edge to the act."
"Act IV struck a more emotional, dreamy chord. While performing 'ADHD,' Paris symbolized her metamorphosis — conquering demons, overcoming hardships, finding love and embracing motherhood. This segment aimed to bring the 'ADHD' music video to life on stage. We collaborated with Marchesa, who also designed the butterfly dress from the video, and Hello Fairy, who crafted custom butterfly wings. LED lights provided by Smooth Technology were installed to the dress and wings, turning this dream sequence into a luminous, living fairy tale."
"The final act, Act V, saw Paris embody the Infinite Icon itself. We wanted this act to carry a futuristic aura and who better to execute this vision than The Blonds, our longtime collaborators. Together, we conceived the perfect Infinite Icon look in lavender, utterly encrusted with iridescent AB Swarovski crystals that captured the essence of timeless glitz."
Photography: Ashley Osborn (for 11:11 Media)
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