This season, Chanel transported Paris Fashion Week attendees to a wintry seaside escape, reimagining the elegance and allure of the iconic Deauville – the very town where Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel embarked on her fashion journey in 1912. The Chanel runway, always a gateway to dreams, this time unfurled beneath a cinematic sky, evoking the timeless charm of Deauville’s beaches and its storied place in French culture, not least as the backdrop of the 1966 classic “A Man and a Woman.”
Under Virginie Viard’s visionary gaze, Chanel’s latest collection whispered tales of the ’20s, weaving the masculine with the maritime, against the soft hues of dusk and dawn. The boardwalk-inspired runway became a parade of naval elegance, with tweed peacoats and sailor sweaters setting the tone for a narrative of cozy sophistication. Imagine strolling along the beach, the cold sea breeze tamed by the warmth of wool jumpsuits and easy cardigan sets, each ensemble a nod to the era’s liberated essence, yet thoroughly anchored in the here and now.
Viard masterfully blended ’70s insouciance into daywear, prioritizing comfort without sacrificing Chanel’s signature chic. Accessories—thigh-high, shearling-lined boots, simple handbags, and a deluge of Chanel’s iconic jewelry—added layers of intrigue, balancing the collection’s effortless foundation with a touch of opulence. And oh, the hats—bold yet understated, adorned yet simple, they were a tribute to Chanel’s millinery roots, updated for the modern muse.
The collection’s palette, a mimicry of Deauville’s sunsets, ranged from the softest pastels to the rich ombré of knit sets and sundresses, reminiscent of sherbet skies. The show crescendoed into a finale of ethereal whites and blacks, lingerie-inspired delicacies that hinted at a romance as profound as the ocean itself.
Angelina Kendall, the runway’s closing grace, embodied the collection’s essence—a blend of simplicity and sophistication, of past and present. Through Viard’s lens, Chanel’s latest offering was more than a collection; it was a sonnet to the French affinity for seaside romance, a winter dream that lingered long after the models had left the boardwalk.
In a season marked by nostalgia yet brimming with contemporary allure, Chanel has once again proved that the magic of the Parisian Riviera is not bound by time. Viard’s vision invites us to embrace the romance of winter beaches, reminding us that, sometimes, all we need is a little Chanel to warm our hearts against the cold.
