I was wrong! 🙂 Boulevard Chanel did neither deal with shopping as back in spring 2009 or fall 2014 nor with brand expansion like for fall 2013! The topic was street riots and political protest. Referencing the fab coffee table book “French Style” demonstrations are a very integral parts of French culture. Using riots as a fashion show theme surely polarizes, particularly when the creative mind behind the spectacle is someone like Karl Lagerfeld, who is known to say that “Fashion is not an art form!” So lets leave it to fashion critics to argue whether the show touched a very recent topics like gender equality, considering the “he for she” campaign, or even reached beyond that towards raising awareness for the current fight for democracy in Hong Kong or was just a stage theatre performance! Let’s take our perspective – the perspective of the customer, who wants to buy pieces that give pleasure to oneself and might eventually hold or increase value and may be even inherited someday!
The scene at Chanel spring 2015 today, pic independent.co.uk
1. Bags
Besides alterations on classic flap and Boy bags the collection was strongly based on plastic slogan minaudieres and hippie messengers, pics by style.com
There were several alteration of the classic Chanel flap and Boy bag including a hybrid of both on the runway. But the collections DNA was based on other styles namely square shaped plastic slogan Minaudieres, hippie style messengers as well as Moschino – or Stella Mc Cartney esque Chanel jackets turned bags! Although I like to question their timeless value these messengers will be the successors of the “art school backpack” from summer 2014 and the “Chanel baskets” from fall 2014. They will be the ones that are pre-launched at style temples like Colette, they will be worn by street style icons for a season and afterwards eventually disappear for ever from our mind …
2. Jackets
Regarding jackets we saw a battle between very feminine and classic, collarless straight tweed pieces with a contrasting trim and more men’s style pieces including pine stripe patterns, pics style.com
While fall 2014’s “Chanel Shopping Center” was strongly based on the more feminine collarless, straight style with contrasting trim we had a reappearance of more “men’s style” blazers and pant suits in a way similar to summer 2014’s art gallery. So they went really safe that every woman finds her style in the collection!
3. Knitwear
Gisele Buendchen made the best out of Chanel’s basic knitwear, pic style.com
In the field of knitwear they went for totally safe selling pieces. Classic cardigans in sailor stripes with pockets and a contrasting trim. Presented by Gisele Buendchen Chanel surely made out the best of the classic!
4. Accessoires
A broad spectrum of accessories at Chanel spring 2015, pics style.com
Again the collection is there to please everyone – No matter whether you missed fall’s interwoven chain necklace that has already inspired a Zara version and will be available at Dior in a slightly altered style next spring as well 😉 or you are a conservativist at heart searching for a simple one strand pearl necklace or you are a logo manic for whom double C’s aren’t enough- Chanel has it!! In search for sophistication? The brick or pavement stone inspired pieces that are a gentle reminder of the fall couture theme seam interesting!
Let’s hope that the show video hits the internet soon! Stay tuned because more detailed reviews on the collection are following on the blog!
