“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?
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?
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?
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!
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?
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