“Boulevard Chanel” – That’s what the invitation to the upcoming Chanel spring 2015 runway for next Tuesday reads. Simple and precise an iconic Parisian blue green street sign on a pale wall of a Haussmanian sandstone building. Another shopping scenario on the runway for spring 2015? A homage to Parisian style?

Chanel spring 2015 “Boulevard Chanel” invitation, pic http://chanel-news.chanel.com

We had shopping themes on the Chanel runway before. Do you remember spring 2009, where a detailed reconstruction of the brands 31 rue cambon flagship decorated the set and models walked down the pavement carrying Chanel shopping bags? After high end luxury shopping Chanel also introduced us to the “treasures” of grocery shopping with its “Chanel shopping center” collection for fall 2014, which is currently available in store. Will they really go for a shopping theme for the 3rd time?

Back in 2009 a detailed model of Chanel’s iconic 31 rue Cambon flagship decorated the set for the spring presentation, pic: http://inside.chanel.com

In line with the high end luxury shopping theme of Chanels spring 2009 runway models walked down a pavement carrying Chanel shopping totes, pic style.com

For fall 2014 – the iconic Chanel shopping center introduced showers to the treasures of grocery shopping, pic from http://collabcubed.files.wordpress.com

in line with the supermarket shopping theme of the fall 2014 show some models were equipped with baskets made out of interwoven chains, photo from style.com

But lets dig a little deeper – “Boulevard Chanel”, “Arrondisment N 5”?! Besides shopping themes Chanel has also referenced global brand expansion in a previous show – remember the giant globe with all the little flags in those towns having a Chanel store for fall 2013? Is “Boulevard Chanel” a reference to what is happening around 31 rue Cambon? Little after little Chanel establishes new micro brands within its empire by giving its production ateliers the power to create own lines and sell them in pop up stores. In December 2013 they opened a pop up store for hatmaker Maison Michel, earlier this year one for Barrie knitwear and an outpost of their shoe maker Massaro. Its a real arrondissement N 5 that starts to develop in this region. Does Boulevard Chanel reference the Parisian expansion of Chanel ateliers?

The Maison Michel pop up store opened in Dec 2013 selling the iconic hats including Henrietta and Virginie its still there. And I guess its going to transform from a pop up into a permanent store, pic http://instagram.com/styleclosup

Barrie, Chanel’s famed Scottish cashmere producer, opened a pop up store on rue Saint-Honoré just a stone throw away from the Chanel flagship earlier this year, pic http://instagram.com/styleclosup

Chanel’s boot maker Massaro was the third atelier of the brand to open a pop up store in rue Cambon. pic http://instagram.com/styleclosup

So what about the fashion we will see? I guess that there will be a repetition of what happened for fall 2014 – trainers and wesp waist silhouettes from the previous summer 2014 couture were adjusted for ready to wear and allowed to bring a tiny bit of couture spirit to the pret a porter clients. I guess that this is an approach several couture houses start choosing as Dior sold its fusion sneakers in a ready to wear fashion and Raf Simons also echoed a lot of his previous fall couture in his summer 2015 ready to wear that was presented yesterday!

The incredible wesp waists from Couture spring 2014 inspired the RTW silhouettes for fall 2014 (grocery), pics style.com

The couture Chanel baskets for spring 2014 were redone in the same shape but different material for fall 2014 (grocery) RTW, pics style.com

Are you as curious as I am to see the upcoming Chanel spring 2015 collection? What do you expect or dream off to see on the runway?