Simply Abu Dhabi XXXI

CHANEL ‘Haute Couture is Paris’ is Chanel’s title for this Fall Winter 2018-19 couture collection. Monsieur Karl Lagerfeld has again written a love letter to the French capital, recreating the Grand Palais, the Seine and the book shops of the Bouquinistes’ green wooden stands just opposite the dome of the Institut de France, built in 1660s by Louis le vau for the powerful Cardinal Mazarin and where the Academie Françoise is housed. The entire collection had that autumnal and nostalgic feeling of fall. Models wearing bold-rock ponytails walked down the runway with tailleurs of classic Chanel jackets and long skirts unzipped to the thigh to reveal miniskirts beneath. Jackets were impressive with narrow sleeves unzipped, defining perfect shoulders and revealing silk and chiffon linings that only the wearer can appreciate. The silhouette was slender, and the collection colour palette ranged from pale grey to black, navy, gold, silver, pink, mauve, white, ecru, beige and green (like the bride gown worn by Adult Akech). For evening wear, Lagerfeld opted for extravagant bustiers, embroidered and draped with bows or just incredible embroidery mixed with understated skirts, or a silver vest entirely hand embroidered with pailettes reminiscent of the moonlight on the Seine with a little black dress. Other hits were the see-through long dresses which featured decorated bustiers, simple velvet tops or balloon-shoulder jackets matched with taffeta dresses.The materials used for the collection were tweed, plumetis, flannel, velvet, crêpe, lace, taffetas, radzimir and chiffon.