Chanel
Pre-Spring ’13 at Chanel: Practical? Bingo. Boring? Never! While the collection, a hybrid of rock ‘n’ roll and French rococo was revealed in the garden of Versailles back in May, boasted poufy pastel skirts and ornate embellishments, the shoes are made for bouncing around and letting loose. A plethora of platform kicks took over the [...]
It seems as snow-haired Karl gets older, the spirit of the Chanel girl gets younger and younger. For Resort 2013, he takes it to a new level, clearly with a hip-hop-meets-Versailles vision (a hybrid of M.I.A. and Marie Antoinette?). The models were painted up in cotton-candy hues like reveling ballerinas at a Rococo party (a [...]
Coco Chanel’s iconic cap-toe shoes were inspired by men’s spectator shoes, which came into life as cricket footwear in 1868. Over a hundred years later, the contrasting toe is still going strong! This spring, perhaps even stronger than ever. I think Coco herself would approve of the 21st century interpretations, from multi-colors to fresh fabrics [...]
Who knew a reasonably comfortable, T-strap-inspired pump could look so mystical? I sure didn’t, not until I laid eyes on Chanel’s magical, crystallized, fossilized Fall 2012 runway show. For the new season, Karl Lagerfeld was, yes, romanced by the stone. And by the mineral and crystal…you get the idea. The runway was a single, massive, [...]
Chanel’s 2011 pre-fall collection was inspired by Byzantium and its queen, Empress Theodora. The result: the character of the sumptuous bohemian, with looks heavy on golden touches, brocade, and disheveled up-dos. And flats. To my dismay, flats are here to stay. At least Chanel proves they can be worn just as decadently as heels and [...]
Perhaps the oddest element of Chanel’s 2012 Cruise collection, just shown in all its excessively luxurious glory on the French Riviera, were Lagerfeld’s hybrid boot-sandals, knee-high and be-thonged. Karl said he wants to challenge through his designs, and that he does! Somewhat hoof-like, they remind me of something out of Greek mythology, though a creature [...]
