Chanel Paris Venice Cruise 2010 Collection |

5 years ago Karl Lagerfeld decided to take the Chanel Pre-Collections to another level by showing these collections the way it deserved to be shown. The idea was to give the collections a ‘travel spirit’, beginning with Paris Tokyo for the Pre-Fall 2005 collection.

After showing past Cruise collections in New York’s Grand Central Station, Santa Monica, and Miami from 2006-09 respectively, Karl transported us to Venice to discover more than just a collection.

On May 15th, 2009, Karl brought the house of Chanel to Venice to present its Cruise 2010 collection at the venerable and exclusive Lido beach Hotel Excelsior. Karl is not shy to draw inspiratation from Venetian and Baroque styles, as was seen in past seasons such as the Haute Couture F/W ’90 and ’93 collections.

More importantly, Venice was an inspiration for Gabrielle Chanel, whom in love with all that this unique city has to offer: museums, somptuous churches. She was particularly seduced by the Byzantine gold adorning Saint Mark’s Basilica.

Characterizing the city’s essence and infusing it into Chanel elegance, Karl Lagerfeld truly delivered on a promise of a Paris meets Venice collection. Venetian masquearde masks modernized with a pair of Chanel sunglasses, while Carnaval harlequin prints and ‘voile‘ lions printed dresses. The lion the symbol of Venice and Mademoiselle’s birth sign. The Lion of Saint Mark is the emblem and the protector of Venice. Lions are everywhere in the cientrance to the Arsenal, on the Porta della Carta.

Looking at this collection, one cannot help but feel that this Paris-Venice show continued a conversation that Karl started with the Paris Moscou Fall 08/09 Collection . It’s as if thought Karl Lagerfeld wanted to share more of Gabrielle Chanel’s history to make us better understand her inspiration and her choices.

We have the same impression watching this new collection inspired by Gabrielle Chanel’s travels in the 30’s. Lagerfeld’s collection recalls Visconti’s stylised films and Venice’s sparkling society of the 1930s. Fabrics were inspired by the rich Venetian reds of the Renaissance, Fortuny’s prints, and the chiaroscuro technique of the great Italian masters.

A “Who’s Who” of international press made it to the event, such as French Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld and Emmanuelle Alt, Vogue Italia’s Franca Sozzani, Jefferson Hack and Model Anouck Lepere among others.

Venetians such as the Countess Brandino Brandolini and the Count and Countess Luca Marzotto were also Karl Lagerfeld’s guests.

Celebrities such as Rinko Kikuchi, Vittoria Puccini, Olivia Magnani, Caroline Sieber, Kasia Smutniak also trekked out to see the collection on the cool Venetian sands.

French actress and Chanel “ambassadoress” Anna Mouglaliswas wearing a beige dress from Paris-Moscow 2008/9 collection with spectacular Chanel Fine jewelry “Franges” earrings in white gold 18 karat and 82 diamonds.

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