St Tropez-ready bathing suits, bold technicolour tweeds and chiffon galore: Virginie Viard brought romance to Paris Fashion Week.
In case you didn’t know, autumn is in full swing. Crisp fallen leaves are making an appearance across our bustling roads, Borg coats and trenches have found their way back into our everyday attire and pumpkin spice lattes are now a fixture in our hands – what happened to summer? As we reminisce on where the scorching hot days went, Virginie Viard gave us a glimpse into what we can expect next year and our minds are left with wonder and awe. Underneath the opulent setting of the Grand Palais Èphèmère, Chanel put the symbiotic relationship of fashion and photography on center stage, showcasing how one simply can not exist without the other.
“It’s a magical object and a sexy gesture, which evokes so many memories,” the creative director revealed. “I used to love the sound of flashbulbs going off at the shows in the eighties when the models were on a raised runway. I wanted to recapture that emotion.”
While this being the driving force behind the collection, each piece presented at the SS22 show encapsulated this sensual energy with St Tropez-ready bathing suits draped with chain beats and simple two-piece bikinis with monochrome palettes. As an array of sets and intimates made their way down the runway, we were soon introduced to the preppy protagonists as a selection of warming technicoluor tweeds with drip-galore made their entrance.
Barbie pink crop tops with shorts, 80s inspired mini dresses and Chanel’s signature embellished jackets all made an appearance in full force. Prints were also a focal point for the collection as bold blossoming butterflies spread their wings across luxurious chiffon skirts.
And of course, it wouldn’t be a Chanel collection without a plethora of accessories, and they delivered. Vintage chained belts, wide tote beach bags and pearl-adored cross bodies made statements at the show, decorating each look an air of romanticism. As the show came to a close with soft breezy silhouettes, a gentle warmth could be felt in the air, we were left with a sense of confirmation of what next summer will entail for us.
