Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) — There is no doubt that there is a strong and ancient link between the worlds of cinema and luxury fashion. The two industries have developed a strong and symbolic relationship between them, whether through the design of artistic clothes, the most luxurious looks on the red carpet, or advertising campaigns starring celebrities.
Which is why the location of Chanel’s 2023/24 cruise fashion show, Paramount Studios in Los Angeles last Tuesday, made sense.
“Fashion and cinema are daydreaming, fueled by a vibrant invitation to walk into the spotlight and never leave the dance floor,” the booklet accompanying the show noted.
But there is also a personal connection between the French fashion house and Hollywood.
Virginie Viard, Chanel’s creative director since Karl Lagerfeld’s death in 2019, worked on fashion design early in her career.
Coco Chanel herself was persuaded to come to Hollywood in 1931, by film producer Samuel Goldwyn, to ensure that his movie costumes would not look stale by the time they were released, and ended up with more than half a dozen costume design jobs under her name.
An homage to the city, and a nod to Viard’s love for the “City of Angels,” the Chanel fashion show held in Los Angeles saw Chanel return to Los Angeles after an absence of nearly 16 years.
A lot has changed in Los Angeles between the late 2000s and today.
While the city has long been a hub of American celebrity culture, its stars have changed or expanded their fields, with current fashion influencers becoming social media and subculture darlings, as well as well-established actors and socialites with worldwide and online audiences. .
Luxury brands such as Chanel have learned to adapt to this development, and celebrate the old and the new in their designs, in line with their cultural heritage, drawing inspiration from the past and looking forward to the future.
Despite the evolution of our definition of fame and celebrity, the luxury and ambition associated with fame are still present, as is the case in the world of fashion.
For Chanel, that feeling began to be shaped by invitations to the show. French artist Andre Saraiva designed the invitations to resemble posters for music events, with the name of each guest listed, headline-style, above the names of famous Chanel ambassadors such as Marguerite Qualley. , Kristen Stewart, and Margot Robbie.
And the result? It’s like Coachella (in other words, LA). And if the goal is to make everyone feel like a star, Chanel has achieved it.
Inside the Paramount studio, the grandstand was set up much like a football stadium, with tiered seating, billboards, and stadium lighting.
Many stars such as Chloe Sevigny, Elle Fanning, Halsey, Chris Jenner, Paris Hilton and Sofia Richie attended.
As the show began, a short video clip of Chanel Ambassador Alma Jodorowsky was shown on a huge screen. In the video, the star – the granddaughter of director Alejandro Jodorowski – appears lifting weights on a must-see western beach, with a ’90s Barbie-like look and performance.
Indeed, there were plenty of Barbie references in the show: trendy pink looks, brightly colored tweed suits, lace dresses and ombré handbags reminiscent of Pacific sunsets.
Some of the pieces showcase bold designs and light, fun colors that are perfect for a doll’s wardrobe; The high heels illuminated in the colors of the rainbow also stood out, which appeared in many looks.
This is not the first time that Chanel has used luminous heels, as Lagerfeld previously used them in his collections in 2008 and 2011, but Viar’s innovations reflected nostalgia and femininity in a superior way.
And Robbie is sure to sport some of these looks during her “Barbie” media tour.
“There’s this playful side that Karl kind of kicked in, of the original Chanel being super chic,” director and Chanel ambassador Sofia Coppola, who also attended the show, told CNN the day after the show.
And she continued, “I feel that Virginie continues in this spirit, but in her own way.”
It wasn’t all fun colours, though, as there were black leather dresses, cut-out bodysuits, luxe tracksuits and a few designs that paid homage to old Hollywood glamour with a modern twist.
“Between dreaming on the one hand and what you want to wear on the other hand, it’s all a matter of balance,” Viard explained in the show’s booklet.
After the fashion show is over, the brochure’s dance floor is now a reality thanks to a surprise performance from American rapper Snoop Dogg.
