A sparkling Animal World awakens: Chanel's Haute Couture Spring Summer 2023
Chanel's new haute couture collection is marked by the collaboration with Xavier Veilhan. And like every good story: It all started in Paris, in Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel's apartment ...
It is the continuation of a creative dialogue that began in January 2022: head designer Virginie Viard once again collaborated with French artist Xavier Veilhan to create the common thread that runs through the collection.
Lions, does, stags, birds and camels
They found their source of inspiration in Gabrielle Chanel's flat, in a collection of objects, sculptures and drawings of various animals. Veilhan's brief was to reinterpret these depictions and images of animals in his own unique way. The magical animal world became an important part of the collection. Tweed jackets are decorated with forest animals, dresses and coats are embroidered with images of their fellow species... The world of nature, the world of animals, merges here with the glamorous craft of haute couture.
"The entire embroidery universe of the collection is turned towards the animal world."
- Virginie Viard
The silhouettes
While many of the embroideries are reminiscent of animals, the cuts of many garments are reminiscent of the uniforms of majorettes. "Les Majorettes" is a French term for girls or women who perform formation dances at parades. Typical of the majorettes are their uniforms: Top hats, white gloves, laced boots, pleated skirts, double-breasted jackets, shorts, petticoats. It is these elements that shape the forms and silhouettes of the collection and celebrate the famous Chanel look anew.
The somewhat stricter style of the uniform-inspired looks is loosened up by longer dresses and jumpsuits. Here, lightness and finesse set the tone: Volants and transparencies created with silk tulle or Chantilly lace, for example, create a balance to the heavier fabrics and round off the overall picture of the collection.
