A new Chanel Haute Couture collection that balances contrasts
On the bank of the Seine River in Paris yesterday, Chanel debuted its Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023 collection. Models embodying the Parisian woman’s lifestyle—complete with cobblestone-appropriate shoes and even her dog on a leash—briskly walked in the sun, dressed in exemplary garments designed by Virginie Viard. Quintessential materials and looks from the house were seen in new light, toying with contrasts to show both the boldness and sensitivity of a woman on the go.
“Playing with opposites and contrasts, with nonchalance and elegance, is like standing on a line between strength and delicacy, which, at Chanel, is what we call allure,” Viard said. These contrasts, while still very Chanel, were expressed in charming silhouettes, elegant cuts, and the allure of each woman’s individual personality. Here in Paris, like all over the world, women are distinct in how they live and travel—and that is reflected in how she dresses.
Through her interests in lifestyle fields like film, literature, and music, her interests are altered, impacting how she approaches her personal style. Fashion, then, becomes part of her. In the new collection, an assembly of tweed, organza, lace, and silk chiffon is seen in floral and graphic motifs—perfect for a feminine creative woman.
Courtesy of Chanel.
Courtesy of Chanel.
Chanel Haute Couture Embraces the Parisian Lifestyle
“If we’re in Paris, and this time we’re in Paris itself on the quayside, the street, and the colorful paving stones call for both sophistication and simplicity,” Viard added. “Handing down emotions, bringing the most unlikely elements together, doing things your own way. Just dreaming.”
The energy of this sophisticated and simple Parisian woman unfolded like a journey on the Seine, flowing with history and art, embroidery and craft. Romantic silhouettes drifting in the breeze were seen paired with wicker fruit baskets, allowing the viewer to dream of the perfect picnic on the riverbank. Mimicking baskets favored by Parisian women in the 1970s, they also carry florals that are replicated in embroideries on the garments above.
Courtesy of Chanel.
Courtesy of Chanel.
Design details crafted by hand
In delicate contrast, belted masculine-inspired overcoats are seen over sheer blouses, paired with tweed skirts; vest tops and pin-striped trousers hug the frame, complemented with painted eyewear and two-tone Mary-Jane shoes; and the bride, dazzling and pure, emerges in a short veil in front of the Eiffel Tower. Playing with the classic Chanel dress codes, the new Parisian woman embraces bold style and discreet elegance, assuring the world, and herself, that she is exactly who she wants to be.
Courtesy of Chanel.
Courtesy of Chanel.
