CONSIDERING Chanel’s fondness for extravagance, it’s not surprising the Chanel Haute Couture Spring collection was in every way over the top and glamorous. Set against a surprisingly tranquil garden and villa, reminiscent of houses found in the French Riviera, the collection drew inspiration heavily from 18th century French fashion.
Complete with gravity-defying hair, Chanel attempts to reinvent their iconic tweed suit in a time period over two hundred years before the creation of the suit. Playing with the silhouette and colour palette to distinctively incorporate 18th-century style, the 2019 collection has many similarities to the 2018 Spring collection, particularly in terms of the comparable use of monochrome and pastel colour. The setting is also very comparable to last year’s Haute Couture show, with the two garden-inspired catwalks much alike.
In parallel to natural surroundings, the collection encapsulates floral prints, embellishments and lively blues and greens. Chanel takes us to a space inspired by nature, taking particularly strong influence from the French countryside, a step away from the label’s characteristically French cosmopolitan style.
The influence of Baroque fashion is everywhere in the collection, a period that is known for its highly ornate and flamboyant design. The use of floral prints, satin bows and feathers in particular pay ode to the movement, as well as the excess of embroidery and embellishment.
Although there were many memorable looks in the collection, the look that stole the show was the final exit, an embellished swimsuit piece, complete with a sparkly headpiece and veil. Supremely luxurious and extravagant, the piece embodied the essence of Haute Couture.
by Emma Hart