“Kicking it old school” just about sums up CHANEL’s most recent Cruise show. For starters, eschewing their usual exotic locales (Dubai, Cuba, Seoul) CHANEL brought it back to their home turf and showed their collection in Paris—the city where it all started.
Secondly, the collection was littered with references of the brand’s past. Focusing on modern antiquity, Karl Lagerfeld drew inspiration from Coco Chanel’s Venus statues and the costumes she designed for Jean Cocteau’s staging of Antigone. While the references may have been old, no one can make ancient history, seem more brand spanking new than the Kaiser himself.
Turing the Grand Palais into Ancient ruins transported show-goers to another era. Models stomped the runway with Grecian-inspired sandals laced up their legs and gave us a fresh take on resort for the brand. While there was still loads of tweed and lots of jewels, this season felt lighter and really drove home the concept of resort. Gowns appropriate for yachting were seen next to lightweight tops, bathing suits, sarongs and pleated silk wide leg pants—everything we’d wear in our alternate life where we vacation in Greece three weeks every summer.
And while we may not have been transported to the ancient ruins literally, the Grecian-themed party that followed had enough fruit, wine, cheese and other Greek delicacies to fool us. Once again, CHANEL and Karl Lagerfeld have managed to make what is old feel new again.
