Karl Lagerfelds recently concluded Haute Couture Fall-Winter 2013/14 show for Chanel, held at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, was nothing short of a visual spectacle. In the dramatic settings of a dilapidated theatre, the stage was set with the backdrop of a megapolis with futuristic elements. Likewise, the clothes in the collection reflected a contemporary sentiment with graphic silhouettes taking centrestage, along with skirts and dresses with 3D-effects.
Like a lot of their previous work, the colour palette of Chanels new collection remained subdued with lots of white, black, grey, dark blue, beige, and light pink. In terms of the fabrics used, one saw a mélange of the classics, such as tweed paired up with skirts, dresses, and jackets embellished with embroidery, sequins, metal flowers, or crystal tiles, or optically enhanced with graphic geometric designs. The looks were fresh, yet drew inspiration from Chanels archives of decades past. Broad belts in tweed, tulle, and silk cinched the outfits at their waists, giving a distinct, pared form.
The show saw a line-up of international celebrities applauding the collection. Pop sensation Rihanna, actors Kristen Stewart, Carole Bouquet, Milla Jovovich, Rose Byrne, Virginie Ledoyen, Clémence Poésy and Alma Jodorowsky, Chanel ambassadors Vanessa Paradis, Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, and Zhou Xun, directors Baz Luhrmann and Olivier Assayas, actors Michael Pitt and Bobby Cannavale, as well as Natalia Vodianova and Ines de la Fressange, were among the stars present at the show.
Text by Treesha Datta