If ever there were an enchanted forest in real life, it was the one seen at last week’s Chanel show held at the Grand Palais in Paris, at which designer Karl Lagerfeld presented his Couture collection for the luxury brand. Actual trees and shrubbery were shipped in one-by-one to the venue at which Lagerfeld has presented in the past. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” was apparently the inspiration for the show, and the actual collection is just as fascinating as the set itself.
Structured shoulders are the main theme of Lagerfeld’s silhouettes for this season— they take form by way of ribbon tweed, most notably in the daywear; and then chiffon, sequins and lace for the evening looks. Daywear included short but full skirts— most falling just above the knee but others hitting mid-calf— paired with tailored jackets with accent buttons. These ensembles were made of fabulous fine tweed that were made all the more mystical next to accessories like leather and lace thigh-high boots and the falling chiffon feathers that hung from each model’s head.
Eveningwear was just as— if not more— alluring. Smooth panels of white chiffon created my favorite look, while other ensembles sported velvet, lace and other luxe materials. Sequins even made an appearance— different colored clusters were embroidered so delicately as to initially appear to the audience as a print. Of course, the first detection of shimmer hinted to Lagerfeld’s elegant handiwork.
The grand finale revealed a series of gowns— the last two of which clearly resembled wedding dresses that were worn down the runway by two side-by-side brides who walked hand-in-hand along with a ring bearer, Lagerfeld's actual godson. This was apparently Lagerfeld’s way of showing his position on the fierce debate on gay marriage that is presently taking place in France.