When Karl Lagerfeld puts on a show, you can bet on at least two things: it will be the grandest of them all; and it will get everyone involved and out of their coveted seats. The black clad, powdered haired legend was up to his usual dapper antics during Paris Fashion Week. His spring/summer 2015 collection for Chanel will have the fashion acolytes digesting the residual hype over exorbitant brunches for weeks to come.
Bouncing along a faux Boulevard Chanel (let’s be honest, the man IS Paris), complete with asphalt and Parisian apartment facades, were dozens (seriously, we’ve never seen so many) of models bedecked in multigenerational inspired Chanel duds, carrying feminist placards matching their verbal chants. That’s right, it’s a feminist revolution and Karl, along with his high-profile posse, are here to make it fashionable and chic. Taking a stance on feminist power is as relevant today as it’s ever been, and the designer was brought up with a strong history of this, stating that his mother was a feminist and he thought it would be fun to make a demonstration he feels connected to.
Saint Laurent fall/winter 2017.Courtesy of Saint Laurent.
Lagerfeld’s collection, which was as vast as his cast, was made up of “pieces everyone can play with.” Quintessential Chanel tweed was reincarnated to form baggy, boxy style suits and skirts in classic black-and-white to psychedelic splashes of color. Pollock inspired spots and drips of vibrant shades saturated longer skirt suits, cut in that classic Chanel shape. Trippy bright hues were found on capelets, blouses, and matching knee-high, flat-heeled boots. Signature tweeds also completed duster coats, vests, and well, practically everything that it is capable of consuming. We especially loved how Lagerfeld took this classic tweed pattern and inflated the format over sheer black fabric for a more formal and modern effect. There was a whopping 88 diverse looks in this collection and we are running out of steam just looking back at them all, but trust us—they will be visible for years to come, and that in itself, is another Chanel revolution.
