A de brief on Chanel' s HauteCouture18/19 show

H aute Couture is Paris” – when these words are uttered together they produce a supreme sentiment in but one statement. And there is nothing more fashion and indeed more chic than Chanel Haute Couture.

For their 18/19 collection, Chanel were joined by a few of our favourite style mavericks. Pharrell Williams, having been an ambassador for and collaborator with the brand, arrived slick, laid back and cool as ever with beachblonde hair. Alongside him was Chanel’s newest ambassador: actress Penelope Cruz, who wore a tweed pink dress and white beret, the very definition of understated elegance.

Literature has always been part and parcel of the Parisian experience. With its idyllic setting, Karl Lagerfeld played to the city’s romantic pulse, putting the show on at Académie Française – a symbolic gesture towards the city’s literary giants.

Opposite the dome of the Institut de France, the world-famous book sellers with their boxes filled with a repertoire of works were lined up along the River Seine. It was a nod for their audience to stroll along and peruse the books – a particularly Parisian sensibility.

An autumnal Paris was the true inspiration for the Haute Couture collection: the grey with slight metallic hues, which seemed to match the rooftops, pale green to mirror the historical buildings that stood before their fashion-forward audience, and beige and more nude colours that were at one with the misty weather that sometimes overshadows the beauty of the city. Each colour in the collection made a reference to the architecture and essence of Paris, which felt like a declaration of love to a city that has always represented fashion, culture and history in high form.

Whether it was tweeds, metallics, sequins, chiffon or even a few feathers, it certainly was an eclectic catwalk. Karl Lagerfeld’s ability to create a synergy between all the different materials and textures created something of a symphony. It felt simple, beautiful and with a hint of romanticism. The models strutted down the runway with their hair in a sleek quiff, which gave them a sense of power amidst the femininity of the surroundings and beautifully curated gowns. Sundanese-Australian model Adut Akech Bior was the talk of town as she closed the show in a stand-out two-piece. Chosen by Karl to be his ‘Chanel bride’ it was a seminal moment in Chanel history as Adut is the second model of colour to ever close the show. As the songs goes: “I love Paris” and here at Emirates Woman, so do we.