By Mimosa Spencer
PARIS. – Chanel took to the Grand Palais for its spring-summer runway show on Tuesday, marking its return to the soaring glass and steel monument with an eclectic collection of sparkly tweed ensembles and a singing performance from actor Riley Keough.
Guests turned out in droves, emerging from a parade of black town cars, decked out head-to-toe in Chanel. After pausing for photos, they headed in through the grand entrance, freshly named after the label’s founder Gabrielle Chanel.
The site of late Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld’s famously dramatic fashion show sets over the years, the building was closed for renovations in 2021 – funded by the brand – before reopening for the Paris Olympics fencing competition this summer.
For Tuesday’s runway outing, a giant bird cage sat in the centre of the space, nodding to an advertisement for Chanel perfume in the 1990s starring Vanessa Paradis.
Models marched through the space, parading a range of tweed looks, including slit mini-skirts, loose trousers and dresses, amply decorated with light-weight capes, fringes and bows. Some had tufts of featherlike accessories on the sides of their sunglasses, others clutched handbags resembling bird cages.
Keough was dressed all in black, with an airy cape and silver platform heels. She entered the set singing Prince’s 1984 hit “When Doves Cry” and was lifted on a swing high enough for models to walk underneath for the finale.
The collection was designed by Chanel’s studios as it awaits a new designer following the departure of Virginie Viard in June. – Reuters
