Runway Video: Chanel Haute Couture F/W 15/16

How do you like the collection and the Casino setting?

Runway Video: Chanel Haute Couture S/S 14

How do you like the show and the collection? Too minimalistic for Haute Couture or contemporary?

Runway Video: Chanel F/W 13/14 (Full Show)

  How do you like the show & collection?

Chanel Haute Couture S/S 13 Runway Video (Full Show)

Even though the theatre location adds quite a weird touch to the show I can`t help but love the collection and its atmosphere of dreamy tenderness. Good job, Karl!

How do you like the show and the collection?

Runway Video: Chanel F/W 12

What an ultra cool show! I`m loving the crystal-theme and the purple. Fantastic collection!

Runway Video: Chanel Prefall 2012 'Paris - Bombay'

Staying true to his custom of exotic inspirations for Chanel`s prefall collections, Karl takes us to India in 2012 and references Sari`s and colonial-style.



I`m thrilled about the jewellery, opulence and also appeciate the colonial looks. They work in non-colours because they are defined by their cuts. I just wonder about the political-correctness of this reference since colonialism is a rather dark chapter of history and this is collection is no critical reflection but a romanticisation of it.

I feel that the merging of cultures is reaching it`s aesthetic limits in this collection. The classical Chanel black and white hardly works without it`s minimalistic square-cut and a Sari doesn`t work without it`s bright colours and prints. A white Sari simply isn`t a Sari.

Another thing I strongly dislike is the dreadlock-reference to the 1970s hippie-interest in India. This is neither Chanel nor India. What would Coco Chanel say to a woman desecrating her hair like that!?! Dreadlocks are not only the refusal of elegance - they represent a neglection of western culture. So how can Karl put them together with colonial-style, which represents a part of western-history that hippies oppose!?!

The mixing of cultures does, of course, raise contradictions but this collection is simply not consistent in itself. By putting together the wrong facets it is as if he had 'neutralized' what was initially great about them (-> see the white Sari).

Conclusion: beautiful but does not withstand further analysis.

How do you like the collection? Hit or miss?

Retrospective: Chanel F/W 09/10

Picture source: Markus Bollingmo for iLook Magazine, via http://sipho.livejournal.com/389279.html. License: Creative Commons 2.0

All about Chanel`s Prefall 2011 Paris - Byzance Make-up

Chanel`s Prefall 2011 'Paris - Byzance' collection was opulent, luxurious and majestic. Karl Lagerfeld and Peter Philips created the make-up to match it with limited edition Chanel products.

The following Chanel products were used to create the runway make-up:

Skin prepared with HYDRAMAX + ACTIVE Nourishing Cream for Dry Skin

The Complexion
VITALUMIERE AQUA Ultra-Light Skin Perfecting Makeup SPF 15
POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE Natural Finish Loose Powder
ÉCLAT LUMIÈRE Highlighter Face Pen
CORRECTEUR PERFECTION Long Lasting Concealer

The Eyes
REGARD SIGNÉ DE CHANEL in Topkapi (Exclusive Creation, available June 2011)
JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Rouge (Exclusive Creation, available June 2011)
LE CRAYON LEVRES Precision Lip Definer in Rouge
LE CRAYON KHÔL Intense Eye Pencil in Clair
LE CRAYON YEUX Precision Eye Definer in Brun Teak
LE CRAYON SOURCILS (available August 2011)
INIMITABLE MASCARA in Noir

The Cheeks
JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Or (Exclusive Creation, available June 2011)
JOUES CONTRASTE Powder Blush in Moca

The Lips
SOIN TENDRE LEVRES Hydrating Lip Treatment SPF 15

The Nails
LE VERNIS Nail Colour in Beige Petale on the hands (Summer 2011 Makeup Collection, available May 2011)

The inspiration for the look was famous mosaic portrait of Theodora, the Empress of the Byzantine Empire Mosaic from the Saint-Vital de Ravenne Basilica. She lived in the 6th century and was empress of Byzantium from 527-548, probably having been the most influential and powerful woman in the empire's history.

“The portrait gave me a focus point : the red eye shadow/liner that she wears on the arch of her eyebrows. This look is all about light and rich textures. The choreography between gold, bronze, black and red can be easily personalized according to the desires of each woman.” (Peter Philips, Global Creative Director of Chanel Makeup)

Source: 1

Retrospective: Chanel Paris-Moscou Pre-Fall 2009 Full Show