Hats off to Karl’s nautical but nice Chanel collection
KARL LAGERFELD had hoped to hire an ocean liner and take his 962 invited guests on a 24-hour sea voyage, showing them his 2018 cruise collection on board. Unfortunately, his crack team discovered too late that such boats are booked up two years in advance, so they had to abandon that plan. Not to be bested, they constructed a life-size replica of a ship inside the Grand Palais in Paris in plywood and scaffolding complete with a soundtrack of seagulls and foghorns. Behind the massive hull that formed the backdrop for the show was an interior akin to a Fifties ship with a piano, mini swimming pool and caviar bar. This was the setting for an after-show party whose guests included Margot Robbie, Kristen Stewart and Lily-rose Depp.
It was an exceptionally easy collection for anyone to wear. The loose, blue and white striped pants, slouchy skirts, exquisitely frayed denims and regatta stripes were presented on a far wider range of body shapes than many other brands use, and if anyone finds the black leather shorts and white tights a little hard to carry off, the lavish accessories – cuffs, necklaces, bags, pearl belts and gauntlets – would add dash to any outfit. Plus, every single look came with its own hat.
I predict a huge boom in amateur stagings of An Affair to Remember in rural France this summer.