Karl Lagerfeld, a visionary curator, a legendary storyteller, stages his Métiers d’Art (pre-Fall 2016) show in one of the world’s grandest film studios.
The backdrops to his Chanel runway shows have long been compared to movie sets. With inspirations from early 1960s Italian cinema, this theatrical setting itself proves that for Karl, building Paris in Rome’s Cinecetta Film Studios in just 6 weeks, is basic.
Imagine this: inky black skies, a thousand candles flickering in the December chill amongst the backdrop of a Renaissance Rome. Sitting on bistro tables at a Parisian street, stands a boulangerie and a café named ‘le Petit Coco’.
Kristen Stewart to your left, Rooney Mara sipping champagne on your right.
These are the Chanel Darlings, synonymous with the definition of the Chanel Woman.
Kristen Stewart #ParisInRome #ChanelMetiersdArt A photo posted by CHANEL (@chanelofficial) on
The collection remains as Parisian as ever; Karl references his love for Paris even from abroad. An abundance of sequins and pearls adorn the jackets. Heavy textures mixed with overlays of leather, embellished capes of ruffles and feathers. Next come the matchy-matchy tweed suits—what Chanel show would be complete without them?
@lindseywixson #ParisInRome #ChanelMetiersdArt A photo posted by CHANEL (@chanelofficial) on
Traces of Roman heritage were found in the ruffled high collars and opulently embroidered rounded capelets. Coats were richly embroidered with floral embellishment. The highlight of accessories? A sleek, black camera shoulder bag that echoed the atmosphere of the film set. The show had a particular nonchalant air to it, what the French might call dégagé, with jackets over shoulders and tied around waists, scarves trailing dramatically off models. Heavy eye makeup gave off a Bardot-like feel.
#ParisInRome #ChanelMetiersdArt A photo posted by CHANEL (@chanelofficial) on
For Chanel’s F/W 2013 collection, Karl staged a rotating globe in the midst of the Grand Palais as the centrepiece of the show. Stamped with flags, marking Chanel stores all over the world, in Karl’s own words, “It’s about the globalization of fashion, I wanted a global look, not a French look.”
Since then, he has lead the fashion pack everywhere. The Métiers d’Art show sets have been beyond spectacular, theatrical to the top. 2013’s Scottish spectacular was staged in Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots. Next, the fashion crowd flocked to Dallas, Texas for his 2014 Métiers d’Art Show unearthing the Wild American West. Dubai, Saltzburg and Seoul all followed. Karl leads the flock …
Because Where Karl goes, the fashion crowd follows.
See all the looks here
words: Nancy Shen
Images courtesy Chanel