From a teaser film which featured Gabrielle Chanel's library, an XXL mythical bird sculpture and a pack of adorable pups, Chanel's SS23 haute couture show was always going to be out of the ordinary.
The maison's creative director Virginie Viard yet again worked in tandem with artist Xavier Veilhan to create a show that front-rowers will have etched upon their minds well into next season.
Hello! Fashion shares the 5 things you probably didn't know about Chanel's SS23 haute couture show:
1. Roger Federer was there
Alongside the usual crop of fashion glitterati, global sports star Roger Federer was present at Chanel's SS23 couture show. He was seated on the front row of the Grand Palais Éphémère with his former tennis pro wife Mirka Vavrinec, Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and film director Baz Luhrmann.
2. The set was unforgettable
Artist Xavier Veilhan was invited back by the maison's creative director Virginie Viard to help bring to life Chanel's animal-inspired vision. Presenting a "stylised bestiary", he created the most imposing, minimalist-feel sculptures – think fantastical birds and unconventional equines.
3. It featured crystal corgis
The teaser film starring model Vivienne Rohner featured several spirited corgis, and this canine concept was also carried over into the collection. Models wore heavy-duty structured jackets, centrally adorned with corgi-face embellishments, which felt a fitting, heart-warming tribute to our late Queen.
4. The vibe was tuxedos and top hats
In terms of accessories, the outliers were directly inspired by old-school masculine dressing. Playful dickie bows and super sharp top hats were styled alongside frothy meringue-style wide skirts and reworked versions of the maison's signature wool co-ords.
5. The bride wore gold boots
Following in Claudia Schiffer’s footsteps, German model Anna Ewers was this season’s Chanel bride. Her mini dress skimmed the mid-thigh, and her transparent veil was dotted in white doves, but the modernity didn’t stop there. Viard imagined her newlywed in gold leather boots. Très chic. “Short skirts were nice to try in haute couture. And I wanted my bride like a small bird in contrast to all these huge animals. To me, Anna is like a heroine from a circus movie,” Viard explained to Fashion Network.
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