Chanel never disappoints (understatement of the year, so far!)
Every time I think, wow how are they going to top this show, they somehow manage to. Not only do they get more creative, they also manage to surprise and delight everyone.
The Chanel Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais in Paris yesterday featured a very Japanese zen-like doll house. The structure remained closed during the show and opened at the end to reveal the models and Karl Lagerfeld himself. C’est magnifique!
Couture is reserved for an exclusive coterie of ladies around the world. The clientele are not usually well known celebrities, rather they are the wealthy madames and seasoned aristocrats, whose names and privacy are fiercely guarded by the fashion houses.
In a world that is increasingly digital, manufactured and accessible (and let’s be honest, replicated) – haute couture is as old fashioned as you can get – each garment is a jewel – bespoke, handmade and unique.
In a fast paced world (that seems to be getting faster), couture is deliberately slow. It is not designed for the masses. You cannot have it right away. You cannot view the garments in shops, but in ateliers where the client receives meticulous attention and service you can only dream of.
In a world that promotes openness and transparency, haute couture is (and will always be) closed and private. In fact the term haute couture is regulated by French law and membership in its governing body, the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture, is limited to only a handful of fashion houses.
For many, all the above are reasons that turn them off haute couture. For us, haute couture is the breeding ground for innovation, the sliver at the leading edge of creativity. Bespoke creations that speak to the heart and soul, without having to be concerned about being useful or whether it can be manufactured for the masses.
Our favourite looks from Chanel Haute Couture 2016 (in no particular order) are below.
What are your favourite looks?
pics from vogue.com