Chanel is Framed for Spring 2013 Haute Couture.

Within the space of the Grand Palais there were unseen birds singing in the dense forest of oak trees and pines. Wide plank steps led to the circular amphitheater within. "A Midsummer Night's Dream" is the perfect inspiration for the guideline of this collection. Shakespeare would be quite amused, I'm sure. Karl Lagerfeld hit the note of haute in haute couture this season with a magnificent collection for Chanel. Clothes exquisite as can be with the usual craftsmanship of the petits mains that only can execute such high quality work with such finish that is perfection.

The setting was romantic and had an underlying mystery. Models wore piles of falling chiffon leaves in their hair and their eyes were encircled with feathered lashes. The standout for this line up was a message that Lagerfeld gave to make a point and that is: framed shoulders. This was a recurring theme in the collection and done in many different ways. Lagerfeld said "It brings life to the face." Exquisite tailored looks opened the show which included a pretty group of pale ribbon tweeds and a black dress with an embroidered yoke and collar.

Not only was there a focus on the framed shoulder but there was a diversity in the line up as well. Most of the day looks - like those beautiful ribbon tweeds - were short with volume, yet out came a trio of looks that had skirts falling to mid-calf.
Evening was quite a fest. Lagerfeld continued to do the shoulder thing as well with floral fluffiness on sleeves, a flurry of white flowers on a black sheath. There were some dense floral embroideries on some structured confections that intended to look like prints and were quite precise in its workmanship.

The finale looked like a dreamy story that was told.  A pair of cutaway feathered beauties, one pink, one dusty green, worn with black leather gauntlets and boots came out. Following that were twin brides that looked delicate and diaphanous in aged white gowns and a ring bearer (Lagerfeld's godson). This is shown as gay marriage is being debated fiercely in France right now.
Why not now? The world has changed significantly and it is changing fiercely now. So why not now? It is the perfect time. Especially if you have the right dress and feel graceful especially when it comes from Chanel!

Chanel

Haute Couture

Spring

2013

Earthy Chanel Fall/Winter 2012-2013.

This was a journey to the center of the Earth by Chanel. Rich-toned minerals of sparkling hues, where the granite sand glistened and huge stalagmites of various greys and purples soared high beneath the Grand Palais. Lagerfeld quipped in a preview that "nature makes a good designer, no?"

The clothes were the absolute Chanel sportif. It was beyond wearable and perfect pieces to choose from and make your own. The colors were deep purples, blues, greens, grays and some reds. All chic looks on the runway and off. All of it looked chic. There were great long coats, great new suit variations, many with sporty jackets.

Everything was shown with pants, some were of the skinny ones and some mimicked jeans, some were knitted. A peekaboo lace version went under a graphically patterned fur jacket.
For evening there was plenty of sparkle and shine.

There were metallic-shot tweeds, metallic blouses, coats and jackets with exaggerated graphic metallic panels that look like cut amethysts.

Raw-cut stone jewelry, a split personality shoe- half bootie and half mary jane, with acrylic and rock crystal heels all tied these Chanel pieces together leaving room for the clients to pick and choose anything and everything for their wardrobes.

Karl Lagerfeld does the house of Chanel justice with his ever evolving ideas and visions. This was a magical and functional collection that he came up with for fall/winter 2012 that is a nice spin on sport mixed with chic.

CHANEL

Fall/Winter 

2012-2013

New Vintage at CHANEL for Fall/Winter Couture 2012-2013.

CHANEL

continues to be one of the best couture houses in the world.

This Fall season Karl Lagerfeld made sure that this collection stands out, especially in the wake of the debut of a certain newcomer in the world of couture. The words classic and new comes to mind after viewing this collection. Once more it is couture at its best.

The collection was presented at the Grand Palais, Lagerfeld's favorite venue. There were tons of trees with silk camellias around the room and white wicker furniture gave a nice summer flavor to the room, where people simply lounged under a beautiful ceiling mural of painted clouds that took three weeks to complete. The invitation and press notes featured Lagerfeld's illustration of Mademoiselle against a pink background which is a nice touch that matches with the presentation.



"I like the title New Vintage. It's very Chanel, but it's not vintage yet. It's the next vintage, and what Chanel should be 100 years after the house opened." Which is obviously even more so since Lagerfeld's tenure has kept the essence of the house secure as well as keeping the standards of its couture extremely high. This is so by manifesting day wear that came out one after another in an array of tweeds in various mixtures of black, grey, white and pink. The sporty looks were impeccable. The winter coats are perfect and worth fighting for. Very ultra chic.



Evening was light, delicate and feminine and had the CHANEL touches and details that looked romantic and elegant. Ultra chic continues here. Soft looks and delicate blouses were paired with beautiful trousers to a beautiful steel grey silk charmuse number over a light soft pink dress. You just have to have a look for yourself and witness the beautiful line up and enjoy these top drawer looks.



From beginning to end this collection is not only created by the genius of Lagerfeld but also by the hands of the ateliers of CHANEL. The atelier did wonderful work in embroidery, sequin and bead work and intricate lace patch work. This collection is one that Mademoiselle CHANEL would be proud of and certainly tickled pink about it and she would have been amused at the idea of the new vintage look.

CHANEL

Haute Couture

Autumn/Winter

2012-2013

Up in the Sky with CHANEL Haute Couture for Spring 2012!



Up and away Chanel goes for Spring 2012 with a beautiful collection of  a rainbow of blue hues according to Karl Lagerfeld. About 150 different shades of blue! The show took place in the Grand Palais in a setting of the interior of a luxe jet plane that brought back the luxury of flying with an aisle wide enough for a collection that was just wonderfully Chanel. This took five days to set up and the carpet has the little insignias of the double C of the Chanel brand all in shades of blue and when the show was going on, the clouds were floating by outside the windows.



The dresses had pockets at the hips to give a sense of feel and casualness and they were short for day and long for evening. The sleeves were ample and the boatnecklines were exaggerated and stood up, from tweeds and boucle to beading and embroidery all done in a new way and in new materials. The beading was fabulously heavy on some dresses and the peek-a-boo effect on the stockings right below the hem added a subtle dazzling touch to the legs.

At the end Lagerfeld came out of the cockpit to give his walk to the applause of delight.
The entire collection held true to the Chanel traditions and the premiers and petite mains all did an amazing job in  executing fabulous new shapes and silhouettes according to Lagerfeld's vision. And Karl is always ahead coming up with new ideas. Like he said after the show: "No Fifties. No Sixties. No Seventies. Just what I like."

CHANEL

Haute Couture

2012

CHANEL Haute Couture Fall 2011. Sssnap!!!

The set that was a replica of the Place Vendôme with glass street lamps and the dome scraping monument that had an aluminium replica of the Mademoiselle herself was really breathtaking. It really set the tone for what was coming. And what showed up was a true Chanel collection that was was a mixture of androgyny and femininity. It was amazing!

I love that Mr. Lagerfeld plays with new silhouettes every season. Offering everything from daywear to eveningwear, this collection does not miss a beat. Keeping the integrity of the Chanel look and aesthetic, Lagerfeld always gives it a clever twist of newness and edge that goes with the time we are in, always moving forward.
Most importantly, Lagerfeld gets every single aspect of the hands of couture busy, all of which ultimately create these magnificent, chic clothes.

Karl Lagerfeld for CHANEL

This season the peplum is the focal point of this collection which is done in so many different ways. The suits in black and white tweed are modern, boxy and classic, the skirts were to the knee, and the evening wear had some wow factors that are perfect for the red carpet.  This wonderful collection brought back the attention that haute couture was all about full wardrobe-dressing. Somehow some designers missed the mark in the past but not the house of Chanel.
In the present it is setting the example as Mademoiselle always has done so. Sssssnap!

CHANEL

Haute Couture Fall 2011

Part 1

CHANEL

Haute Couture Fall 2011

Part 2

Chanel Spring Couture 2011. A touch of Karl Lagerfeld.

Karl Lagerfeld is the ultimate freelancing designer. For Chanel it seems as though he has been the channel of Coco and makes the brand look modern, classic, and edgy, if that makes sense. With Lagerfeld in the creative helm since 1983, the House of Chanel has been quite a presence in the fashion world today as it has been in the past. Today Chanel still continues to be a name that will forever be a classic.

Karl Lagerfeld

Lagerfeld's inspiration for Chanel's Spring 2011 Couture Collection is artist Marie Laurencin. In 1923 she designed Les Biches, a ballet commissioned by Diaghlev with a scenario by Cocteau. The lightness and transparent like clothes were whispers of inspiration that were washed in beautiful light pastels and dipped in crystals, beads and sequins. The classic tweed suits were made with a twist, with an updated silhouette that is perfect for today's fashion. The dominant element in the collection were the skinny pants done in all fabrics and textures. When the show was over the curtains and mirror were raised and the entire collection was displayed on the mock up of the mirrored stairs of the house of Chanel where Coco would discreetly sit and watch her collection presentation.

CHANEL Couture

Spring 2011

The passion that Karl Lagerfeld has for Chanel is always greatly expressed

and the result is just delightful.

All resources that can be thought of is always used

to create these beautiful couture collections.

I love that the legend of Chanel goes on and on and on.

Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld!

CHANEL

Couture

Spring 2011

Pants Phenomenon

Wonderful ideas for pants sprinkled the runways for the 2011 Fall/Winter season.

Fitted, wide, tailored, cropped, and more, will  be wonderful additions

to building a full fledged, fashionable wardrobe.

Aquascutum

Jason Wu

Chanel

Gucci

A peak of the Pre-Show Chanel Haute Couture Spring/Summer 2011

The finishing touches are being done on these marvelous designs of Chanel the day before the show. It is nice to see that some of the head seamstresses or premiers are still there, such as Madame Jacqueline and Madame Cecile.
This collection was very beautiful with the play of soft colors and silhouettes. The embroidery is exquisite.
I am certain that the Chanel clientele fell in love with many pieces from this collection.
I wonder if there will be alot of spitting on the finished garments before they are delivered to the clients.
It is a Chanel tradition after all.