Chanel presented its 2020/21 Métiers d’art Collection at Le Château des Dames in France this week.
An iconic castle designed and lived in by women it seemed like the perfect location to present this collection designed by Virginie Viard. “Showing at the Château de Chenonceau, at the “Château des Dames”, was an obvious choice. It was designed and lived in by women, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici. It is a castle on a human scale. And Catherine de’ Medici’s emblem was a monogram composed of two intertwined Cs, just like that of Chanel,” said the Creative Director.
Catherine de’ Medici, Queen Consort of Henry II of France during the Renaissance era was one of the most influential women of her time and undoubtedly was a source of inspiration to Gabrielle Chanel who was inspired by women of that era.
The runway was set with a black and white checkered floor reminiscent of a life-size game of checkers. This same motif appears on sequinned mini-skirts and a long skirt in a fringed geometric tweed patchwork worn with a black and white jacquard sweater.
“I like everything to be mixed up, all the different eras, between the Renaissance and romanticism, between rock and something very girly, it is all very Chanel.” Said Viard.
The warm tones of the classic Chanel tween reflect the tapestries of the castle while the flowers from the gardens inspired the floral embroideries on the wide lapel of a jacket.
A long coat in black velvet has a “The Bride Wore Black” aspect, because, after the death of King of France Henri II, Catherine de’ Medici only wore black. This long black piece was paired with tweed in soft tones.
As with all of its Métiers d’art collections this offering displays the finest in skills and craftsmanship from Chanel’s ateliers. A long black lace dress is composed of lattices punctuated with studs, made by Lemarié; while the top of a damask dress is embroidered entirely by Lesage.
