‘Virginie Viard parts ways with Chanel after 5 years with the maison.’ Probably the first headline us fashion folks and culture enthusiasts read, early in the morning. Relaxed and progressive, her 30-year-long stint rightfully culminated in her appointment at the helm, to carry forward Karl’s indomitable legacy. The French maison has been witness to major events – wars, revolutions, crumbling governments, tumultuous fashion cycles, the onset and imminent death of certain fads, and a lot more.
Yet, to this day, Chanel’s prudence refuses to be extinguished. What’s the deal? Well, for starters, apart from a very strong blueprint set by madame Coco, plenty of credit lies with the remarkable magnanimity of every single show. The spaceship one? Marvellous. There’s an airplane situation and a forest too, mind you. Oh, and the supermarket, my favourite out of the lot.
Keep reading for a download of 8 mind-boggling locations where Chanel has conducted their shows.
Paris-Bombay 2011/12 Métiers d’art Show
With arched doors, opulent crystal chandeliers and a lavish 50-meter buffet table, the Galerie Courbe was converted into a spectacular Maharaja’s banquet hall. Sweet tea, mango lassi and excellent champagne were delivered by Nehru collar-jacketed men while a miniature Chanel train carrying a crystal decanter of scotch rolled down the table. This is the show that made me fall in love with Chanel.
Spring-Summer 2012 Haute Couture Show
This time, even the crowd joined the set. The flight attendants were offering champagne, mango juice and water, and the scene, which included a skylight with a cloudy blue sky above, highlighted a spring couture collection that was meant to exude lightness. All set to take off!
Fall-Winter 2014/15 Ready-to-Wear
A unique shopping experience, the Chanel supermarket has to be one of the most famous catwalks ever. Branded Chanel products were being removed from shelves, ranging from lemonade to washing powder as the models arrived at the Grand Palais with a cart full of necessities. So much fun.
Spring-Summer 2015 Haute Couture Show
The set for this Chanel Couture Spring show was an origami minefield, decked with life-size reproductions of the art. The male models were seen trailing behind the ladies with flower stems. Dreamy indeed.
Fall-Winter 2015/16 Haute Couture Show
Actors Julianne Moore and Kristen Stewart took centre stage at this Couture Fall show and opened the Chanel casino with a game of blackjack before the models proceeded to the runway. Talk about poshness.
Fall-Winter 2017/18 Ready-to-Wear
During the Fall Winter ’17 show season, Lagerfeld went above and beyond by having a life-size rocket ship recreation installed within the Grand Palais in Paris. During the February 2017 performance, he not only transformed the Palais into a space station but also made it seem like the rocket was taking off.
Fall-Winter 2017/18 Haute Couture Show
The set drew inspiration from Paris, the home base of the renowned fashion brand. A massive copy of the Eiffel Tower was built to span the runway, beneath which models walked. It was, in a way a vision of a revived Parisian woman, being all about cut, shapes, and silhouettes whilst paying homage to Paris.
Fall-Winter 2018/19 Ready-to-Wear Show
With leaves forming the runway’s base, Fall Winter 2018–19’s woodland theme evoked strong autumnal feelings. Chanel tweaked their otherwise black-and-white palette with an array of reds, moss and pine green, with some floral designs.
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