International luxury fashion house Chanel revealed a spectacular Grecian-themed show to a celebrity audience in Paris on Wednesday, receiving rave reviews.
Karl Lagerfeld, head designer and creative director of Chanel commented that the Chanel Cruise 2018 show was inspired by Ancient Greece. Before the show he said, “The criteria of beauty in ancient, then classical, Greece still holds true. There have never been more beautiful representations of women. Or more beautiful columns.”
Chanel transformed The Grand Palais into a stylish runway that recreated ruins from the Parthenon in Athens and the Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion. Pebbles, marble stones and sand decorated the platform for Grecian inspired models to walk on and a real olive tree in the background sealed the finishing touch.
Karl Lagerfeld titled his Chanel collection “La Modernité de l’Antiquité”, meaning The Modernity of Antiquity. The collection featured a series of draped dresses with particular attention given to exposed corsets embroidered with sequins to mimic the marble patterns of ancient statuary.
The models resembled Greek goddesses- dressed in striking and stunning white wide-legged jumpsuits with lots of gold accessories; belts, braided headbands, necklaces and serpent bracelets- Karl truly created a breathtaking Greek-inspired collection.
White and black 50s-bombshell swimsuits with transparent rain capes, gold-embellished sunglasses, and flowing silk robes printed with golden laurel crowns were also spectacularly highlighted.
Karl also commented, “I see Greece as the origin of beauty and culture," and featured Ancient Warrior influences in his designs with box-pleated skirts and jewelled breastplates.
Gold dominated, from one-shoulder silhouettes, dresses, jackets, tops, shorts and skirts to the stunning accessories
Adding to the Grecian theme, traditional interlocked C’s on the clothing that signify the Chanel brand were replaced by gilded laurel wreaths throughout the entire collection.
A standout were the Column Shoes, which were gladiator sandals reinterpreted by Lagerfeld, with a Parthenon column repositioned as the heel. These bold kicks came in a range of bright colours from vibrant yellow and turquoise blue, through to classic red and black versions- a perfect way to top off Lagerfeld's Greek-inspired designs.
Celebrity guests included Keira Knightley, Isabelle Huppert and filmmaker Pedro Almodovar. French model and international music producer Caroline de Maigret also attended and mentioned that she has a “special thing for Greece” because that’s where she goes every summer.
How beautiful and classy!