SPRING-SUMMER 2018 READY-TO-WEAR CHANEL SHOW

It all started in Geneva: I had just gotten back from spending time with my family in London and I was sitting in a car when I got the magical call from my mother. It was then that she told me that we had been invited to Paris to see this show and it was then that I started to get very, very excited… It was all so quick after that: two hours later I was at fittings at Chanel, trying on an outfit for the event and 19 hours later I was sat on a plane, next to my mother, destined for Paris.

Amongst our arrival in the ever-so-beautiful, ever-so-stunning city of lights, we were rushed to a cocktail hosted by Chanel in celebration of their new Joaillerie collection. Introduced and exposed by breathtaking shots of Keira Knightley, this event was simply a living dream. I was handed a glass of Prosecco and fell deeply in love with an irresistible diamond necklace, a classic long gold chain and these small padded rings.

Ending my evening with a stroll around Paris, I looked back at my first day here with awe before delving into seven pillows of Hotel bedding delight!

After a very peaceful night’s sleep, I awoke the next day to a plate of fresh fruit and a very tight schedule which involved preparing myself for a Chanel show in 40 minutes… After finishing up my makeup 38 minutes later, I grabbed my black Chanel hat and ran out the door.

In the car directed to the Grand Palais, I pondered with my mother about what Karl Lagerfeld’s theme would be for this collection. In the past, his imagination has never been limited and alongside his fascinating collections, he has presented the world with extraordinary sets. Ranging from an Eiffel tower to an airport to a lion to perfume bottles, Karl never fails to amaze. Hence, I had no idea what to expect, except a feeling of utter amazement and astonishment.

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Upon arrival, I was immediately engulfed into what felt like my eight-year-old self’s exotic fairytale dream. With cliffs, plunging waterfalls and turquoise water mimicking the Gorges du Verdon in the South of France, I was captivated. I could feel the breeze and smell the salt and I suddenly felt alone and as though I was back on my summer holiday in 2011. After these few seconds of utter daydreaming, I was shoved by a paparazzi and fell instantly back into reality. I then took a couple of photos with my mother, still in shock as to how the set of a fashion show could so powerfully throw me into an emotional state. Once seated, I waited for the show to start.

First out was Kaia Gerber, dressed in thigh-high clear plastic boots which sparkled from the spray of the water and the reflected sunlight from the old windows above. After her were 89 more looks which each, in turn, stunned me and every single photographer around me. I saw heaps of frayed, quilted/knit pieces and lots of electric blue – in the clothes and the eyeshadow which fitted in harmoniously with the metal hair pieces. I listened to the modern music which held a steady beat yet had strokes of dainty sounds entering the soundtrack every so often. This was presumably done to calm the environment for a couple seconds before returning to the rapid, robot tunes. I was emerged into what felt like a futuristic world except when I looked down at my watch, we were still in 2017. The clothes were aquatic, the looks were exotic, but everything felt so utterly classic. A retro vibe filled the ambience and bright colours on classic suits were everywhere. I specifically adored the second look – a two-piece, Bermuda shorts and crop-top look which was tied together by an insane belt and silver sunglasses! Following trends yet marking his own twist, this look just goes to say that Karl is timeless. I also particularly loved look number 41 which presented a retro, feminine take on the traditionally masculine all-white suit. It was accompanied by transparent gloves which take a futuristic twist on the ones that Karl himself wears every day. Cool and chic ruffled garments also graced the runway in looks 72 and 74 (worn by Adwoa Aboah) which both in turn created an unbalanced harmony between oversized chemises and skin-tight black skirts. I’m also a big fan of the huge earrings I saw on the runway and can assure you all that when worn correctly, they can show an enormous amount of class. Furthermore, I saw lots of pastel colours, sequins, glitter, pleats, risky yet successful modernisation of classic looks and most importantly, lots of blue, aquatic looks. Alongside the ones I mentioned, more of my favourite pieces from the collection will be pictured below.

Overall, I adored the daintiness yet aliveness of the ready-to-wear show. The retro, poetic and stubbornly eye-catching collection threw every other designer out of the board game. Karl outdid himself once again with a fresh, futuristic take on what 2018’s fashion will look like.

Tiffany Lea