PARIS – Amid the meticulously curated elegance of Paris's Fall-Winter 2025 Haute Couture Week, an unsettlingly familiar figure has been gliding through the cobblestoned streets, drawing a frenzy of camera flashes and bewildered stares. It is Morticia Addams, the ghoulishly glamorous matriarch, brought to life not on a film set but as the latest creation of British performance artist Alexis Stone.

Stone’s appearance is the latest in a series of elaborate, hyper-realistic celebrity impersonations that have become a disruptive and celebrated feature of the high-fashion circuit. As reported by CNN, the artist's commitment to the character is total, from the slinking gait to the eerie, unwavering gaze, causing a stir at major shows and blurring the line between attendee and art installation.

The Artist Behind the Mask

Alexis Stone, a Manchester-born artist, has built a formidable reputation on the power of transformation. Using a masterful combination of prosthetics, intricate makeup, and method acting, Stone morphs into globally recognized icons. This is not mere costume play; it is a dedicated artistic practice that interrogates the very nature of celebrity and image.

Before embodying Morticia Addams, Stone has appeared at fashion events as a startlingly accurate Dolly Parton, a weathered Jack Nicholson, and even the beloved character Mrs. Doubtfire. Each transformation is a meticulously planned performance piece, designed to provoke reaction and conversation. The artist’s work forces onlookers—and the billion-dollar industry they participate in—to question what is real in a world saturated with carefully constructed images.

A Meticulous, Painstaking Process

The uncanny realism of Stone's characters is the result of painstaking labor. A recent CNN feature offered a glimpse into the demanding process, revealing the hours of prosthetic application and makeup artistry required for a single appearance. The transformations often involve a team of specialists who help sculpt and apply the silicone pieces that completely alter Stone’s facial structure.

This dedication extends beyond the physical. Stone studies the mannerisms, posture, and energy of each character, fully inhabiting the persona for the duration of the performance. The result is a surreal spectacle where a fictional character or a living celebrity appears to have stepped out of the screen and into the real world, interacting with the chaos of a major media event. This commitment to detail is what elevates the work from simple impersonation to profound performance art.

Commentary on a Culture of Image

Beyond the technical skill, Stone’s work serves as a potent commentary on contemporary celebrity culture. In an era dominated by social media, filters, and curated public personas, Stone’s art physically manifests the artificiality of image. By inserting these painstakingly fabricated icons into the heart of an industry built on appearance, the artist highlights our collective obsession with fame.

The presence of "Morticia Addams" at a Schiaparelli or Chanel show is jarring and thought-provoking. It challenges the exclusive and often severe atmosphere of haute couture, introducing an element of the bizarre and the theatrical. It asks: in a room full of people performing a version of themselves, what makes this performance any different?

As Paris Fashion Week continues, the industry waits to see who Alexis Stone will become next. Each new transformation is not just a viral moment but a chapter in an ongoing artistic dialogue about identity, reality, and the powerful allure of the famous faces that shape our culture.