Ready-to-wear shows are about selling product, Paris' haute couture shows, staged each year in January and July, are about selling the dream. During the Spring-Summer 2021 season, which took place from January 25 to 28, the few designers working in this rarefied space once again came together -- this time, virtually -- to parade their most fantastical designs.

While the theatrical collections typically include elaborate runway productions, world-building has become more challenging due to the restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic --- but not impossible. This season, a number of designers found ways to awe through the computer screen alone.

The grandiosity and artistry was all but eclipsed by the star-studded cast, which included actress Demi Moore and 1990s supermodels Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. It was also something of a family affair: Moss' 18-year-old daughter, Lila Grace, and Turlington's nephew, former professional baseball player James Turlington, were also included, as were the daughters of Silvia Venturini Fendi, the house's creative director for accessories, menswear and children.