January 29, 2025 |
It could have been one of those place holder collections, but it felt like more than that. With Matthieu Blazy due to start in September, the Chanel atelier are in the driving seat and showed that they are among the best in the biz, producing a couture collection that felt youthful, charming and as pretty as a picture. Leaning in to a leggy gamine, Parisian vibe, they turned out a plethora of short tweedy skirt suits in candy pastels, each one subtly different but exquisitely detailed with Lesage embroideries (although one yolky, yellow version, trimmed with candy pink tulle and embroidery, stole our heart). From first look to last, it felt light, bright optimistic and deliciously pretty. The audience watched from a swooping, architectural set in the Grand Palais (Chanel’s catwalk home), which was designed to look like the interlocking Cs of the Chanel logo and also the infinity sign. Continuity counts for this 110 year old brand: Chanel forever was the message. As well as sweetness, there were moments of great sophistication and grandeur, with the pure elegance of a long bitter yellow satin shirt dress and the drama of a billowing cornflower blue opera cape. But youth won the day. Even the bride wore a short organza dress and silver sequinned jacket. Bravo to the atelier, Blazy is a lucky man to have them at his fingertips.
Photography courtesy of Chanel.
