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Chanel: Wonderfully Swingy
By Godfrey Deeny
Photos by: Gruber-FWD
Click on image to see bigger photo.
Paris, Mar 15, 2001/ FWD/ --- Karl Lagerfeld pumped up the volume at Chanel Thursday, before
taking the label down the slopes in a bravura finale to a polished and chic collection.
Staged in a packed auditorium in the Carrousel du Louvre, the show opened with tolling bells
before sinuous funk signaled the arrival of the first outfits.
The opening girls donned earmuffs and handwarmers with Chanel logos, plus futurist patent
leather 1960s boots turned down buccaneer-style to protect from the winter chill.
There was plenty of shearling on the runway and one bag was wrapped up in an animal skin.
But the essence of the collection was some wonderful swinging coats and jackets in pink,
beige and icy blue speckled prints.
"I found an old Chanel jacket from 1957 that became my inspiration. It was tight at the
shoulders but then looser: very agreeable to wear and very Mademoiselle Chanel," Lagerfeld
explained backstage as a dozen TV crews craned in microphones to catch the designer's every word.
The designer played with waists, grafting in wide bands of black fabric to give dresses and
coats a grander feel.
For evening, Lagerfeld whipped up black chiffon baby doll dresses that
will get some groovy gals into plenty of trouble.
In accessories, Chanel, like YSL under Tom Ford, seems determined to encourage that nicotine
habit, sending out a pack of cigarette cases held by Coco's signature gold chains.
For fall,
Chanel also showed its classic padded leather bag, this time with embossed carnations.
Karl's closing act was great fun - sending out a ski team of snow bunnies that included Devon
Aoki as an Alpine duchess in a white bouclé cardinal soutane and snowshoes.
She was followed by
Maggie Rizer as a mountaineer and Frankie Rayder as rock climber.
Karl's final outfit was a
bizarre sleeping bag dress worn by one hirsute male model.
St. Moritz, here we come.
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