Designer Recreates Stolen Louvre Jewels for Fashion Show

When robbers lifted priceless jewels from the Louvre last October, the world mourned the loss of French heritage. But fashion designer Daniel Roseberry saw an opportunity to keep their beauty alive.

Walking home from his office just after the heist, Roseberry had a spark of inspiration. "Wouldn't it be nice to reimagine the Louvre jewels that were stolen?" the artistic director of luxury fashion house Schiaparelli wondered.

Three months later, his vision came to life. Actor Teyana Taylor, fresh off her Golden Globe win, stepped onto the runway wearing Roseberry's recreation of Empress Eugénie's legendary pearl and diamond tiara.

The original 1853 masterpiece featured nearly 2,000 diamonds and 212 pearls. Roseberry's version appeared even taller and more extravagant, paired with a replica of the empress's diamond bow brooch that contained over 2,600 diamonds.

"We made them more three-dimensional," Roseberry explained. The pieces kicked off Schiaparelli's spring collection at Paris Haute Couture Week, one of fashion's most influential events.

The collection's theme, "The Agony and the Ecstasy," captured France's emotional response to the theft. French President Emmanuel Macron called the heist an attack on the country's heritage, and the Louvre closed for three days afterward.

Both the original tiara and brooch remain missing. The thieves dropped only one item during their escape: a crown that once belonged to Empress Eugénie.

Why This Inspires

Roseberry's approach shows how creativity can respond to loss with beauty rather than despair. Instead of dwelling on what was stolen, he ensured the jewels' legacy continued through his art.

This isn't the first time the designer has drawn inspiration from history and culture. His spring 2023 collection featured looks inspired by Dante's Inferno, including Kylie Jenner's viral lion's head dress and Doja Cat's all-red ensemble.

"What I am trying to do is create the fashion equivalent of pop music," Roseberry told reporters in 2023. His goal is making fashion as universally appealing as a Taylor Swift song.

While the stolen originals may still be missing, their beauty returned to Paris in a new form that thousands witnessed and millions more will see in photos. Art, it turns out, is harder to steal than jewels.