Haute Couture Autumn/Winter 2011: Chanel, in the Coco Vendome

Posted by Katie Hill at 1:28 pm July 7th, 2011 | 0 comments

What would Haute Couture be without Chanel? The iconic fashion house did not disappoint this year putting on a theatrical show at the Grand Palais attracting the likes of Anna Wintour, Diance Kruger, Alexa Chung, Elle Fanning and Charlotte Casiraghi. Held at 10 pm under the starry Parisian sky, Karl created a mock Place Vendôme, complete with sparkling black pavements and the statue of  Coco  (Napoleon exists at the real place).

Largerfeld predominately used of tweed, tulle and taffeta. Starting the show with classic Chanel suits but made magical and seemed almost like evening wear, featuring heavy embellishments such as beading and crystals. The night theme was accentuated with the models wearing sheer lace blindfolds, almost like a magical masquerade ball.

This season the pant suit became a skirt suit, with skirts and dresses featuring heavily throughout the show. There was also the traditional bridal dress – in pearlescent satin accompanied by a 10 foot train with silver leaf detail in an intricate zebra-like pattern. Overall the collection had an old world, classic feel from the Victorianesque hats and lace to the 40s style silhouette, cinched in tightly at the waist. But the collection also retained a certain sense of modernity, with the use of modern materials like peplum to achieve the sculpted waists and big shoulders in the jackets. The added fishtails to the skirts also helped to re-invent their longer length.

The pièce de résistance at the finale of the show (something special we have come to expect from Largerfeld) were the shoes. Throughout, the models had worn boots and when the lights went out the tips of their boots lit up. Light-capped steel toes! Ingenious and reminiscent of those LA gear shoes in the 90s we wore as kids that flashed. However, not quite as chic as Chanel.

Katie Hill loves writing about fashion from all over the world. A self-confessed shopaholic, she is always seeking out the lastest news and newest trends.