Paris is synonymous with Haute Couture as is French fashion house Chanel with Paris. This season Karl Lagerfeld paid another homage to the magical city, with a focus on book lovers and the Académie Francaise. The runway was lined with booksellers' “boxes”, as you would see quayside along the Seine, invoking the spirit of the Parisiénne intellect. Models adorned in beautiful dresses and gowns embellished with tweed, flannel, velvet, crêpe, lace, taffetas, radzimir and chiffon, as classic Chanel. The colour palette mimicked the tones of Paris rooftops, street asphalt with black and deep nocturnal navy with gold and silver reflections like the reflection of the moon on the Seine. Jackets were joined by pleated skirts. Chiffon blouses, high band collars, lace tops, and others with plastrons embroidered with sequins, beads, and crystals, further enriched the collection. A feeling of 1940's was present with exaggerated pompadours, knee-length skirts, pan collars, encompassing pre-rockabilly vibe. Karl expresses his recognition that Paris is a very unique fashion capital, a symbiosis of arts and culture makes Chanel unique.

The guest list at the show included Chanel's new ambassadors Penélope Cruz, and the regular CHANEL ambassadors Lily-Rose Depp, Vanessa Paradis, Pharrell Williams, Marine Vacth, Caroline de Maigret, Soo Joo Park, Ellie Bamber, Ayami Nakajo, Liu Wen and Zhou Xun, American actresses Tracee Ellis Ross and Mackenzie Foy, Thai actress Chutimon Chuengcharoensukuying, Canadian singer Charlotte Cardin, French actresses Diane Rouxel and Carole Bouquet as well as French ballet dancer Marie-Agnès Gillot attended the Fall-Winter 2018/19 Haute Couture runway show this Tuesday, July 3rd at the Grand Palais.