Chanel celebrated the discreet charm of the Parisienne with its outdoor couture show, held on the edge of the Seine.
Luxury brand CHANEL unveiled its Fall Winter 2023.24 Haute Couture Collection on July 4th during Paris Fashion Week. Creative director Virginie Viard’s exceptional collection powerfully captured the essence of the Parisienne, who gracefully balances an audacious spirit with a profound sensitivity. The Parisienne’s incomparable and mysterious beauty shined through her ability to subvert conventional norms and merge disparate elements that were typically isolated, labelled, and prioritized for the sake of expediency.
According to the designer, playing with contradictions, contrasts, nonchalance, and elegance was akin to walking a tightrope between strength and delicacy, which embodied the very definition of allure by Chanel. The chosen looks, literary passions, opinions, and overall approach to life of the Parisienne were meticulously researched and examined.
She served as an exceptional role model, inspiring and influencing others, whether through opposition or emulation, and her irresistible allure extended beyond fashion collections, infiltrating the realms of cinema, literature, and music. “Playing with opposites and contrasts, with nonchalance and elegance, is like standing on a line between strength and delicacy, which, at CHANEL, is what we call allure,” Viard explained.
With its lively streets and picturesque Seine River, Paris, the city of love, provided an ideal symbolic backdrop for the unforgettable Haute Couture show. In this event, CHANEL’s Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Haute collection designed by Virginie Viard paid homage to the celebrated ambassador of the brand – Vanessa Paradis, magnificently embodying the grace and charm that characterize the Parisienne.
“If we’re in Paris,” she added, “and this time we’re in Paris itself, on the quayside. The street and the colourful paving stones call for both sophistication and simplicity.” To imagine an Haute Couture show on the banks of the Seine, with Vanessa Paradis as the embodiment of Parisienne allure, was like a journey through a world of images and emotions, permanence, and beauty.
This collection flawlessly depicted a blend of bold and graceful styles, exuding an irresistible allure with opulent tweeds, ethereal silk chiffons, exquisite organza, and intricate lace. Each fabric showcased in the collection provided a captivating peek into a world of feminine creativity, encapsulating the very core of Parisian essence.
The Fall-Winter 2023/24 Haute Couture collection by Virginie Viard featured an assortment of stunning pieces, including long, masculine-inspired overcoats, diaphanous blouses cinched at the waist over flat-pleated golden tweed skirts, precious vest tops, pin-striped trousers and men’s waistcoats, a majestic long black chiffon dress that’s light as air, and painted eyewear, all perfectly complimented by two-tone Mary-Janes.
Models walked down the runway carrying vibrant wicker baskets filled with blooms and accompanied by furry friends. The designs on display featured a delightful medley of layered, hyper-realistic floral sequins embellishing tiered dresses, radiant appliqués with fruity motifs flawlessly interwoven within the intricate crochets and knits, immaculate boater hats, an endearing pink coat dress with a belt, and a glamorous golden embossed skirt suit that oozed youthful exuberance. According to Viard, the entire collection had an enchanting essence that was truly mesmerizing.
This collection seamlessly blended the elements of CHANEL’s classic codes of rigor and asymmetry while exploring an array of discreet and vibrant colours, exuding confidence, and subtlety. It also emphasized the importance of conveying emotions, fusing unlikely elements, and approaching things in one’s own unique way, all while dreaming. “Handing down emotions, bringing the most unlikely elements together, doing things your own way, just dreaming.”