Karl Lagerfeld invited guests into the world of Chanel on July 5 in Paris. The designer recreated the ateliers on the rue Cambon inside the Grand Palais as a tribute to the esteemed tailors and dressmakers of the maison. In front of tables with sewing machines, mannequins, and pins the fall/winter 2016/17 haute couture collection was presented.
The fall/winter season is sharp with clean, smooth silhouettes and beveled or angular shoulders. Tweed jackets accentuated the waists while three-quarter-length sleeves were met with long black fingerless gloves. Coat dresses and jacket dresses meeting leather thigh boots erected a strong but elegant figure. The majority of the models held a haunting hairstyle of teased and frayed curls piled tightly atop the head with a grosgrain headband.
Courtesy of CHANELEnglish illustrator Aubrey Beardsley inspired the evening emphasis of distorted geometric shapes. Some dresses flared out over soft cages with an underlying pencil skirt. Careful beading, stone embroidery and feathers were crafted into beautiful flowers that were captivating. The final piece to the perfect arrangement of a chic and enchanting collection was the bride. Lagerfeld married a bustier and pants with lace, tulle, and satin enveloped in white and pink woolen strands. A jacket and train complimented the outfit each embroidered with feathers.
The regality and intricacy of the show embraced the significance behind haute couture. Displaying the many hands that labor behind the label added to the authenticity that only few brands could achieve.
