Chanel haute couture brings an understated ode to Parisian elegance in the autumn-winter collection
PARIS (AP) — Models did their best to brave the cobbled banks of the Seine on Tuesday as Chanel showed off her Fall-Winter collection and celebrated the soul of Paris.
Here are some highlights from Tuesday’s fall couture collections, including when The Associated Press caught up with French actress Clemence Poesy.
THE PARIS OF CHANEL
“This collection is the portrait of a sensitive yet daring Parisienne,” said Virginie Viard, Chanel’s creative director. “It’s like being on a line between power and delicacy.”
Tuesday’s assemblage of tweed, silk chiffons, organza and inlaid lace, in a myriad of floral and graphic motifs, testified to Viard’s vision of this rich and feminine universe.
Despite the sparkle and shine of gold heels and buttons, the collection embraced a comforting simplicity.
Confident yet understated colors, pleated gold tweed skirts, masculine-inspired overcoats and finely textured jackets all played on the subtle allure of the show. A standout piece was a dark blue asymmetrical sheath skirt with feathered tulle that fell from the lapel, a fusion of asymmetry with Chanel’s codes of austerity.
At one point, a model strolled down the runway with a black Alsatian dog, a seemingly whimsical addition that had onlookers snapping away at their cameras. But perhaps the most quintessentially Parisian touch was a fruit basket – a tribute to the Parisienne of the 1970s.
Viard described her approach as: “Passing emotions, putting together the most unlikely elements, doing things your way, just dreaming.” And through this collection, she has masterfully transported us all to Paris, an emotional tribute to the enduring allure of the Parisienne, right on the quayside of the Seine.
POESY ABOUT CHANEL BOOKCASES: ‘NOT YOUR USUAL BOUQUINISTE!
Clémence Poésy, a French actress and “Harry Potter” alum, attended Chanel, and it seems the allure of the “bouquinistes” on the Seine had her enchanted. The scene, recreated by the house, was a charming homage to the iconic riverside bookshops in Paris, so beloved by locals and tourists alike.
“There was a Parisian essence, being on the banks of the Seine and having the bouquinistes at the beginning,” Poésy told the AP, her eyes shining with the show’s magic. “It felt like I was traveling through many eras of Parisians.”
The actress was particularly enchanted by the French stalwart’s playful nod to Paris’ past, which evoked images of both the 1970s and new wave cinema. But it was the bouquinistes – a regular part of her weekends – that really captivated her.
“You walk along the Seine and go to all those vintage and second-hand bookstores along the river and bridges,” she explained, recalling her routine. “You usually find something you wouldn’t buy anywhere else.”
Chanel’s unique on-brand installation, she chuckled, was definitely “not your usual bouquiniste.” She added with a tender smile, “I hope it stays there forever. It’s such a precious thing.”
