Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Paris Fashion Week Coverage

Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2009

At Chanel Haute Couture, it feels like Karl Lagerfeld was designing with the Savoir Flair girl specifically in mind. The brilliant designer revealed an impeccable play on proportions and craftsmanship, showcasing a collection that is entirely representative of our target audience, the youthful sophisticate.

Showing last night in an unconventionally late hour of the evening, the Chanel show was – despite being set against four luxuriously towering white Chanel No. 5 bottles at the magnificent Grand Palais – a toned-down, understated marriage of couture flair and cocktail drama. Much like Galliano did at the Dior show the day prior, Karl Lagerfeld went back to the basics of the design house, showcasing classic and versatile pieces that were almost exclusively detailed with a flap motif.

Models strutted around the giant fragrance bottles in gorgeous suiting, decadent party frocks, and divine, floor-sweeping gowns, all intricately sequined in rich fabrics such as light chiffon, embellished tweed, and delicate lace, which extended itself to accessories such as tights and fingerless gloves. Black, white, nude, burgundy, and silver reigned supreme, with hints of navy, purple, red and fuschia. Hair and makeup was similarly understated with a large dose of drama: the models sported high ponytails, teased at the crown and fitted with contrasting, curled extensions, with only a bare face and winged eyeliner.

Collectively, the show was a fitting testimony of the times, with yet another designer paying homage to a brand’s roots. But Lagerfeld showed us yet again why Chanel is our favorite show to watch at the Paris runways: even when designing a low-key collection, he manages to double up on glamour.