Chanel Haute Couture Fall Winter 2012 Collection

Tuesday July 3, 2012 – Grand Palais

Chanel’s 1932 collection of unique jewelry served as inspiration for this year’s invitation cover; an updated collection that Karl Lagerfeld has dubbed as being “New Vintage”. As is often the case with Karl, the era that inspired it is never taken too literally. If he seems to dabble in contemporary musings (most of which seem to be ‘treated tweed’ – actually it’s embroidery), he does so by piecing together ideas from the 1930s’ and 1970s. Wide trousers are directly borrowed from Chanel in the 1930s, which gives off this look of luxurious nonchalance. Pant legs, stunningly straight and done in black or pearl gray tones, produce an ‘infinite leg’ effect. Top-wear saw silk blouses, torn organza, white tulle embroidered with strands of feathers or a black bustier, adorned with a large pink duchess satin bow, with “colors that are very Marie Laurencin,” says KL.

Subtle colors are the hallmark of this collection, with (large) luxury innuendos simply muted. Ash gray, gray, tea rose, petal ice, powder, glitter rainbow, flirt, storm, graphite, candy … all shades seem to have been created for Chanel as they are scaled to the millimeter in the quarter-tones. The scabbard, made entirely of thick-grain ribbons in gray and pink is purely mind-bending.

The “The Little Black Jacket” book, whose photos will be exhibited in Paris on November 8, features jewelry and the decor of today’s camellias; elements that embody the ‘New Vintage’ designed by Karl, and which recall the fundamentals of Gabrielle Chanel’s charter. Since 2009, Chanel couture buyers are continuously growing and are now much more international. If all holds true, then this watershed moment in Chanel’s history will be but a pale blue diamond in comparison to its great, pearly future.

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Chanel Haute Couture Fall 2012 Fashion Show Video

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Photos and Video courtesy of Chanel

Makeup by Peter Philips

Music: Be With You / Hercules And Love Affair , Labyrinth (Club Mix) / Joakim , In The Grace Of Your Love (Pional Remix) / The Rapture

Chanel Fall Winter 2012 Collection

Tuesday March 6, 2012 – Grand Palais

It’s like a dream, this is amazing” said Mouna Ayoub looking at the Chanel set in the Grand Palais. She is one of the few women that can have everything, but even she was amazed. In many ways, we all owe a small debt of gratitude to Ms. Ayoub, whose vast wealth is only matched by her penchant for Haute Couture. Because of clients like her, fashion houses can afford to treat the world to a collection that exemplifies the pinnacle of fine craftsmanship and unimaginable decadence.

Chanel is truly a multifaceted gem. Karl, no less faceted than the house of Coco, brilliantly explores every aspect of the brand by delivering a purely decadent runway show. The decor was composed of giant ores, smoky quartz and amethyst crystals, emerging from a bed of white gravel, and paired perfectly with a pulsating, energetic soundtrack remixed by Michel Gaubert.

For the past few seasons, Chanel has to toyed with idea of layering pieces, leaving the skin rarely exposed. This season was no exception. Womenswear saw softened drawstring tweed fabric on parkas. Things got even more interesting with dry tweed jackets and dress numbers which were worn with skinny pants, buttoned at the ankle; a clean way to refresh the current Chanel 2012-2013 winter trend of ‘super-layering’. Some of the looks offered afraser take on couture accessorisation, with loose coats in black tweed knotted with martingale belts, worn at the hip, fringed with red crystals at the edges; ditto on the black and white looks.

A toddler sporting the velour ‘Boy’ mini-bag rendered an otherwise fetish accessory into an adorable children’s piece. The jewelry looked raw and edgy with metal joints appearing to have been burned by a welder’s torch, which was then tempered by a gorgeous array of raw studded crystals.

Of course, the inspirations were of such variety that it felt as if there was a little something for everyone. And it appears as if this multi-pluralistic approach to fashion is paying off. “[They’re] buying as many accessories as they are buying clothes” says Bruno Pavlovsky, the house’s president of fashion activities. Starting today, the brand will provide clients with more choice, with the launch of its second Avenue Montaigne store. Already open, the 450 square meter boutique located at building No. 42 faces No. 51, where Chanel invested in a 600 square meter property that spans two floors. “On the first floor, eight fitting rooms can easily accommodate clients. At No. 42, the space was tight. Not enough room to accommodate everyone, “says Pavlovsky,, who was ready to fly to Tokyo to accompany the Haute Couture collection.

Presented in January, the same collection will bow for a second time in the ‘land of the rising sun’. The trip will be an opportunity to relaunch the aviation inspired pieces to even greater fanfare, and would be a first for Chanel. The trip will be capped with a series of photographs, shot by the Kaiser himself, which will go on display and focus on the jacket; the cornerstone of the Chanel empire dating as far back as the 1920′s.

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Photos and Video Courtesy of Stylerumor.com

Making Of: Chanel Cruise 2012 “Tale Of a Fairy”

After Saint-Tropez last year, Karl Lagerfeld spent his days in the shade of the pines of the Villa Eilenroc in the Cap d’Antibes. For three days, the designer went behind the camera to film “Tale Of a Fairy” starring Anna Mouglalis, Chanel ambassadress, Amanda Harlech, Kristen McMenamy, Freja Beha, Bianca Balti, Brad Koening, Jake Davies, Mark Vanderloo, Oriol Elcacho, Sébastien Jondeau, among other friends of the House.

Belle Epoque atmosphere, beige furniture, cream parasols, chiffon dresses and swimsuits define the elegance of the new Chanel Cruise 2012 Collection. Anna Mouglalis which stars in “Chez Gino” a movie directed by her partner Samuel Benchetrit, was talking a lot on a couch with the cast ephebes Baptiste Giabiconi and Seth Kuhlmann.

On set Karl Lagerfeld replayed the scene again and again. Like in a diet coke commercial  between each shots, a server, wearing a white jacket, black tie and silver tray, was bringing a glass full of the designer’s drink of choice. For three days, hundreds of people, technicians, makeup artists, cinematographer, cinematography, models made “Tale of a Fairy” possible … “They are all familly for Karl” said Elise Boireaux – de Bellefonds, “He needs to be surrounded by people he likes.”

After Antibes, the whole team moved to Monaco to shoot scenes at the Monte Carlo casino and also outside.

The final scene takes place at the Monte Carlo Casino. For the occasion the casino had been transformed into a movie set. There was even a black and white fight scene shot around a gambling table. An eye on the board, the other on the monitor screen, Karl directs, sitting in a chair with his name embroidered on it. After each scene completed an admiring Karl was praising and applauding his actors. Around the table,  the star: Anna Mouglalis, the Adonis Baptist Giacobini, the statuesque Kristen McMenamy, the amazing Amanda Harlech and beautiful Brad Kroenig, all acting in Chanel. And for the atmosphere, real casino croupiers play their own role with great fanfare as “faites vos jeux”!

Watch “Tale of a fairy” on Chanel.com on May 10th 2011 at 9.00pm GMT

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Photos by J.T Stylerumor.com

Chanel Haute Couture Spring Summer 2011 Collection

Tuesday January 25th, 2011 – Pavillon Cambon Capucines, 46 rue Cambon, Paris 1er

Surrounded by a decor with hues of grey and light pink, the legendary Coromandel screens give structureto the room. The baroque arch, a reproduction of what was once displayed in the 1930′s apartment at 31 rue Cambon, stands theatrically in a mirror version reveals the replica of the mythical staircase at rue Cambon.

Under an elegant and watercolor influence, lightness, radiance and freshness set the tone for the season.
In the footsteps of the black and white suits and dresses with the embroidered motif, a wash of pink takes its place in the collection: fresh pink, tender pink and raw pink are complemented by soft greys and ivories, with highlights of silver. The pink instils a mood of grace, poise and elegance. Its subtlety and sophistication reinforce a fresh, urban character, with a hint of mystery.

The silhouette is one of clean lines, close to the body, before blending into gentle, freer forms, subtly relaxed at the back.

The cut on the shoulders is rounded, seamless and ultra pure, with relaxed necklines, highlighted with little youthful sleeves, either contrasted or with bavolet effects.
Predominantly cut from light, extensively developed tweeds, the coats, jackets and dress coats are accompanied by slim leg jeans in denim or sparkling with sequins. Buttons and belts constitute the accessories.

The grace of the long dresses and narrow tapered or straight knee-length skirts, is also present in the clean lines of the chiffon, tulle and organza tops embroidered with sequins, crystals, flowers and pearls. Sophisticated tiering and drape characterise the skirts, captivating with exquisite transparency and culminating in whispers if tulle, delicately cut in an impressionist style with low waists which glide over the hips.

Karl Lagerfeld adds poetic elegance with slim leg trousers in chiffon, which have been embroidered or covered in sequins in their entirety: a quintessential rock-chic signature. Worn round the neck is a black satin ribbon, placed with a pointed toe and ballerina ankle boots.
“Fragile Rock” is the interpretation from the master designer, who has chosen to open and close the ball with Stella Tennant and Kristen McMenamy.

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Photos & Video J.T Stylerumor.com
Runway photos by Chanel

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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Obligatory Caption : © Chanel