June 26, 2014 3:40 pm

Backstage in Paris: Face Paint and Wispy Hair Extensions

By Kevin Tachman

Photo: Kevin Tachman

In spite of a somewhat-delayed start due to French airline strikes, Paris Men’s Fashion Week kicked off yesterday in exuberant style. The Cut’s Kevin Tachman was there to capture the mood behind the scenes, from the full-visage face paint and unwieldy-looking visors at Walter Van Beirendonck to some confusingly purposed hairpins backstage at Valentino. Raf Simons took the cake for most unexpected hairstyle: His models walked with odd, whiskerlike hair extensions protruding from their front scalps, looking not unlike praying mantises. Click through the slideshow for these and more backstage highlights from the beginning of the Paris menswear shows.