If the Chanel Fall/Winter Couture 2017/18 collection is any indication of autumn style, I say Be gone, glorious Summer!
It’s going to be an elegant autumn according to creative fashion genius, Karl Lagerfeld.
It’s the vision of the french woman re-imagined, transformed…It’s all a play on cuts, proportions, forms and silhouettes. I wanted everything to have a very clear, sketchy feel to it. Like it was all extremely graphic and modern.
~ Karl Lagerfeld
Reminiscent of the refined and elegant early 20th century woman—the glory days of Coco Chanel herself—the clothes were exquisite and subtle in a restrained pallet of grey and black.
The audience sat in groupings on metal chairs beneath the intricate replica arches of the Eiffel Tower set in the Grand Palais.
Recreating the favourite French pastime, people-watching, the spectators viewed the models passing by on the sand-and-gravel runway.
Like the tower, compositions were structured. Hemlines were low, collars were buttoned up, jacket sleeves were exaggerated, and everything seemed to gloriously match.
THE COLLECTION
THE DETAILS
THE DESIGNER
THE ACCESSORIES
A handbag, the signature Chanel boater hat, pearl earrings. Accessories were minimal, keeping the emphasis on the clothes. Raid the thrift stores, or your own closet, for big 1980’s round, pearl stud earrings.
Chanel accessories were charmingly adorned with matching tweed.
The old-fashioned Victorian boot was worn with everything (even the wedding gown). Ankle length or over-the-knee, the black patent leather lace-up style was made modern with a perspex-block heel. Some even got the matching tweed treatment.
THE MAKE-UP
When it came to the makeup, the models each wore a mélange of rainbow shades all over their lids — pink on the lids, blue underneath the lower lashes, green along the crease and orange and yellow along the brow bone — each shade blending seamlessly together like the watercolours in a Monet painting. You can see a close up of the look, created by makeup artist Tom Pecheux, below:
~ Sophia Panych, Allure Beauty Editor
Image via Samantha Lau Instagram
THE HAIR
I just didn’t want to do an ordinary ponytail under the hats, so we did a double twisted version that we covered in a fine net, almost like snood. It made the look more sculptural, heavy, and solid.
~ Sam McKnight, hairstylist
THE RECOGNTION
Nothing usually tops the wedding dress finale, and although it was beautiful in its simplicity and romantic camellia details,
the show closed magnificently with 83-year-old Karl Lagerfeld, who came to Paris seven decades ago, receiving the highest honour of the city of Paris: the Grand Vermeil. The medal was presented by the city’s mayor, Anne Hidalgo, and is bestowed in recognition of extraordinary achievements in service to Paris.
You have to love a city’s identity, its personality, what it has to give you, and not look for what is lost. A personality changes, yet remains the same.
~ Karl Lagerfeld
Photographic series by Karl Lagerfeld shot in Paris. Image via Chanel