Chanel’s beach hits all the right style notes
From the jacket to save up for to the return of the legging, Chanel’s show could change the way you dress next summer, says Lisa Armstrong
Deauville, Bondi, Sandbanks (not as famous as Malibu, but far superior in my opinion), Koh Samui… the list of the world’s great beaches is a permeable, much debated topic. But one that doesn’t generally impinge on Sylt.
The name doesn’t inspire optimism, but this sand – and mudflat – fringed island, lapped by the North Sea, is Germany’s Ile de Ré and the site of many family holidays for Karl Lagerfeld.
Reason enough to splurge half a million euros or so on a sand-andwater-filled set beneath the soaring glass dome of the Grand Palais, and fill it with muscular tanned lifeguards perched aloft lookout and chuck in a few Caribbean-style straw huts because, well, because.
Perhaps it was because there was actual water and actual sand (guests had been warned to wear flats), the atmosphere seemed charged with negative (ie the right kind) ions.
This was a genuinely uplifting show. And here’s why…
1 The Chanel jacket, which can sometimes seem a bit ageing or heavy, is so back on form that it’s already wreaking destruction on one’s
financial planning. From oversized, jewel-buttoned reefers to Adwoa Aboah’s skinny navy cardi-jacket with at least 20 other variations in between, including shirred-waisted versions with bracelet-length sleeves, if ever you were in the market for a £2,500 jacket, now, or rather next spring, is your moment.
2 It reminded us all of the virtues of leggings. We’ll always love flares, but nothing shows legs off quite so generously as allcovering, opaque skinnies with a decent amount of supportive stretch. And you never have to take them up.
3 We were introduced to the wrist purse. Finally a new bag with a genuinely useful purpose. That said, in about five minutes cash will be entirely extinct, but think how handy Chanel’s quilted pastel gloves with integral coinpouch will be for Oyster Cards, blister plasters, spare contact lenses…
If that doesn’t do it for you, there are plenty of other hands-free options available, from the necklace bag to the belt bag, to the double, double-c bag, because obviously, one Chanel bag at a time is never enough.
4 The straw hats managed to be broad-brimmed and practical while reeking of tousled luxury.
5 The models traipsed through the sand barefoot – and OK, they later slipped into the Perspex sandals that had been thoughtfully placed at various intervals along the immensely long boardwalk-cumcatwalk, but this was a show primarily about clothes, not shoes.
Mind you at some point, someone somewhere will market a £600 no-shoe-shoe and it will sell out immediately.