Paris couture week wouldn’t be Paris couture week if it wasn’t for one of France’s oldest and most prestigious fashion houses, Chanel making an entrée. Creative director Virginie Viard has designed the latest SS21 collection for Chanel which is heavily inspired by spring weddings and the joy that comes from them.
In collaboration with Dutch photographer and filmmaker Anton Corbijn, the duo created a 10-minute fashion film which was set in the monumental location of the Grand Palais, Paris. Starting the film in black and white, the camera follows a herd of Chanel models making their way through the Palais, each with strikingly embellished outfits, adorned accessories, and a look of excitement on their faces.
Botanical arches covered with pastel-hued flowers was what drew your eyes to look at as the focal point of the decoration, alongside rows of wooden chairs seating some of Chanel’s modern-day ambassadors such as Penélope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Lily-Rose Depp and her mother, Vanessa Paradis. Each of the beauties wore downplayed but elegant clothing as they looked on to admire the walking creations Chanel had given life too.
Viard explained in the show notes that she knew “we would have to invent something else, so I came up with the idea of a small cortege that would come down the stairs of the Grand Palais and pass beneath arches of flowers. Like a family celebration, a wedding…”
Many of the models wore an array of pastel and spring palleted tulle gowns, finished with sequins, ruffles or floral applique with fresh-faced makeup and simple hair, except for some models sporting hair garlands of colourful flora and fauna similar to that of bridesmaids and flower girls.
Other models paid homage to the early creations of Coco Chanel, with masculine yet sleek tailored suits, waistcoats and shirts that added an element of edginess to the otherwise sugary-sweet designs.
As each of the models circulated the Palais, each took a seat at the row of wooden chairs with a smile on their faces, imitating the anticipation of wedding guests arriving at a much-loved family wedding. Towards the end of the show, a snow-white horse is led out by a guide into the centre of the Palais which sits the bride of the show on a brown leather saddle, ready for her guests. The bride walks a circle round the Palais, showing the reflective sheen of her all silk gown with white feathered embroidery, crystal buttonings and a cascading translucent veil that sparkled with glimmers of embellishment, which fell from her head to the ground.
Words by Sophia Zenonos
