Karl Lagerfeld showed off the entire staff of the ateliers including sewing machines and dummies to the audience for his Chanel Fall 2016 Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais. During the show the staff were asked to carry on working to create an authentic atmosphere. Back in the day, Coco Chanel invited her audience to shows in her house, but this time the house came to the audience.
Models looked like rag dolls with dark heavy liner under their eyes, piled-up curly hair, cropped tweed wide-leg trousers, structured billowing outfits, low-swooping belled skirt shapes and wide square shoulder jackets came in abundance.
It was a 3D experience with texture; detailed embroidery, gem encrusted pieces, feathers, matte materials and overlapping paillettes. Elaborate garnet- or emerald-hued crystal embroideries on white dresses stood out.
Trousers and jumpsuits were key, cut lean through the body and widening through the leg to the cropped hem in a precision A-shape, under lean, longish jackets. This appeared to be the new Chanel suit. Then there were striking cutaway jackets and dresses.
