HIGH HOPES

As Pierpaolo Piccioli and Maria Grazia Chiuri reimagine the idea of haute couture, Karl Lagerfeld and Clare Waight Keller paid tributes. jacquie ang rounds up the highlights of Autumn/winter 2018 haute couture

CHANEL

Post-war Paris was a dreary picture of dirty streets, and dark and derelict buildings when Karl Lagerfeld arrived at the age of 18. That did not stop the German teenager from falling in love with the city, which he paid homage to in this ode of a collection that reaffirmed Paris as the capital of haute couture.

He built his new concept around what he called “High Profile”, composed of a slender silhouette with defined shoulders and slits that are actually an open zip trimmed with braid. Slashing profiles of sleeves and skirts, it gave audiences a sneak peek at long colourful fingerless gloves, embellished miniskirts and contrasting linings.

While the collection was enriched with sequins, beads and crystals, there was lightness and delicacy from tulle and chiffon that swirled so ethereally as models wafted by.