Aoki Lee Simmons Made Her Runway Debut at Pyer Moss

The latest Pyer Moss show was an event filled with firsts. Founder Kerby-Jean Raymond made history as the first Black American designer invited to show as part of Paris Couture Fashion Week. But wasn’t the only one having a commendable first time. Harvard student (and now model) Aoki Lee Simmons also made her runway debut.

Following in the footsteps of her mother Kimora Lee Simmons – who started out as an exclusive Chanel model at 13 – Aoki Lee entered the high fashion world in style. The 18-year-old took to the blue runway surrounded by an ambiance of luxury. Wearing some black and white checkered heel boots, she strutted to the soundtrack of Flatbush rapper 22Gz and a violin orchestra. She looked the part wearing a two-tone beige and mocha brown suit. For many, her checker print ensemble was one of the highlights of the Pyer Moss show and an avant-garde ode to the game of chess, which has origins in Africa. Designer Kerby-Jean Raymond made sure crowds got the chess reference by embellishing her suit with colorful chessboard pieces. 

Aoki Lee allowed her outfit to take center stage by opting for more stripped-back styling. She wore her hair in a slick bun parted in the middle by a single Fulani braid and, of course, elevated the style with some perfectly gelled edges.

Titled “Wat U Iz,” the Pyer Moss show took place on July 12 at Madam C. J. Walker’s estate in New York City. Madam C. J. Walker was America’s first Black self-made millionaire and captures the collection’s theme perfectly. It was an unapologetic celebration of Black inventors and models wore household items designed as wearable art. 

Walking in an haute couture show is an impressive start to Aoki Lee’s modeling journey. She took to social media to share her gratitude and some behind-the-scenes shots of her look. “Thank you so much for including me, trusting me to do your genius justice, and giving me my first haute couture runway experience that I will never forget,” she captioned her Instagram post. “The people I worked with and met during this journey are all the definition of passion and professionalism. I’m forever grateful, still crying a little.”

She received a flood of support on Instagram with Euphoria actor Storm Reid commenting “GORGEOUS MY LOVE” and her mom Kimora Lee showing her pride with an Instagram post captioned: “Bravo! Mama is beaming right now for you my baby!” Aoki Lee also posted a video of her runway walk and thanked her supermodel mom for teaching her some tips. “Can’t wait to improve upon this! Thank you to everyone who gave me tips @kimoraleesimmons most of all!” she captioned the video. 

We can’t wait to see what’s in store for Aoki Lee’s blossoming future in fashion.

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