CHANEL HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION

It is said that Paris is the most beautiful city in the world. Its Eiffel Tower is one of the most admired monuments. Beneath the glass ceiling of the Grand Palais, a 38-meter high reproduction of the Eiffel Tower imposes its majesty. All around, chairs from Parisian parks invite leisurely strolling and the rediscovery of Paris. Conceived by Gustave Eiffel for the Exposition Universelle of 1889, the Eiffel Tower was the tallest edifice ever built by man and symbolised the industrial era into which the world was heading. It inspired many artists including the painter Robert Delaunay who visualised it with neo-impressionist and cubist lines. Today Karl Lagerfeld pays tribute to Paris in a décor that’s like a beautiful autumn day: “It’s a vision of a revived Parisian woman, it is all about cut, shapes, silhouettes. Here the line is very delineated and graphic, it’s very modern” explains Karl Lagerfeld. His parisiennes step out in hats, wearing booties or thigh boots buttoned up to infinity.

This season the tweed jacket comes as a long tunic, or is cropped and double breasted; its sleeves are cambered or dressed with never-ending fingerless gloves, and bouquets of feathers flourish here and there, “in this collection, there are feathers treated like fur,” reveals the designer. It is worn with dome or wraparound skirts, tubular dresses or wide-cut jumpsuits. The silhouette is graphic, supported by tweeds, mohair, and grey, black and white wools, autumnal palettes in navy blue, burgundy and green. It adopts long, straight volumes, flares into A-lines, or in complete contrast, is rounded on oversize coats, peplum jackets and frock coats with cinched waists.

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