Feel the Heat with Chanel Cruise 2017

Seeing as I am going on holiday next week (to sunny Spain) I am very much in the holiday spirit at the moment. There's no ad campaign that will get you in the mood for summer than the Chanel Cruise 2017 season, inspired by Havana. Even though it was released a little while ago, I have only just fully discovered how atmospheric it is. The colours, the scenery, the styling, everything is just so beautiful. Shot by Karl Lagerfeld himself, the campaign features Mica Arganaraz in day time looks strolling along the beach or alongside a traditional doorway and Stella Tennant in stunning evening looks in dramatic monochrome. The whole shoot is breathtaking and extremely youthful for Chanel, which makes a nice change. See the ad campaign in all its glory below and feel the summer spirit of 2017.

See the Chanel Cruise 2016/17 show below (it's not one to be missed!)

3, 2, 1 Lift Off! Chanel Shoot for the Stars

Today Karl Lagerfeld brought a white rocket to his latest Chanel show. Never one to disappoint, the designer used the giant missile as a prop for his line up of models to walk around as they journeyed down the catwalk in space age styles. Metallic dresses, shiny foil shawls, white boots with the classic black toe cap, tweed suits in grey, white and black tones... this collection was subdued (compared to the Couture show in January) and very cool. There were still all the Chanel-isms present, such as the quilting, heavy costume jewellery and loose, shapeless silhouettes but this show was definitely targeting a younger client. It was also refreshing to see a number of menswear looks on the catwalk, as Lagerfeld never usually mixes mens and womenswear together. This season it seems, he has a change of heart. From the silver headbands models wore pushing their hair back in a 60s beehive style to the casual bags which were slung across the body, Chanel Fall 2017/18 was fun yet sophisticated. We expect nothing less from Chanel.

Bella Hadid on the Chanel catwalk - note the amazing eye make up.

Gigi Hadid sports a beehive with classic hounds-tooth jacket

PFW: Chanel Haute Couture 2017

In the Grand Palais Karl Lagerfeld delivered his latest Haute Couture collection for Chanel. Following on from Maria Grazia Chiuri's spectacular Dior couture show yesterday along with the evening masquerade ball hosted by Dior, Chanel had a lot to live up to.

Lagerfeld opened the show with a handful of pretty tweed suits, a tribute to the current Jackie movie perhaps, which came belted at the waist. Chanel and tweed are synonymous with each other but there was something about these suits which just felt fresh and new. I loved the cute neckties and boater hats which were paired with them. But it was the stand out pieces at the end of the collection which were really beautiful. I'm not usually a fan of Chanel's version of red carpet dressing, but so many of these dresses would fit right in at the Oscars next month.They were beautiful and the craftsmanship was second to none. Sequined empire line dresses decked with feathers at the hem and on the arms, deep v-cut gowns with material tiered around the skirts, le pouf skirts with glittery Mary Janes...everything just looked so stunning paired together.

The waist was really highlighted with belts drawing in draped fabric in soft pleats while the baby pink, lime green and silver tones all worked together seamlessly. All the models, which included Arizona Muse and Bella Hadid looked simply divine with their hair carefully swept to the side and pinned back from the face, which had minimal make up too. Lagerfeld's message was simple - this show was all about the clothes. As the last looks came out onto the tiled runway, Lily Rose Depp stepped out in a giant pink, frilled gown which was slightly shorter at the front and trailed across the floor at the back. If there was one look that summed up the show, it was that one. As Lagerfeld came out to take his bow, Lily Rose by his side, the Grand Palais erupted into jubilant applause. In my opinion, this was one of Lagerfeld's best couture collection ever.

Karl Lagerfeld takes Chanel into the future and beyond...

Welcome to the Chanel data centre. Here you will find what the future of fashion will look like, in the mind of Karl Lagerfeld. Expect tweed, but with an urban twist complete with baseball cap, lingerie as your go to item for day wear and plenty of prints, colours and fabrics contrasting against each other. It's fair to say that the Chanel Spring/Summer 2017 collection was extremely modern, up to date in this madly obsessed digital age in which we live in.

Set in the famed Grand Palais as usual, the Chanel set was transformed into a data centre with wires, switches and coded messages surrounding the catwalk. The show opened with 2 models, their identity is still unknown, wearing cyborg outfits. Yes, there really were white helmets, plastic gloves and shiny shin pads, worn with contrasting classic monochrome Chanel suits. If anything they looked more like stylish storm troopers who had escaped from Star Wars, than cyborgs. Arizona Muse followed this weird spectacle, in a blue and white tweed jacket worn over a light pink slip dress. All the models wore little white, lace up shoes as though they had stepped out of a space centre, but the clothes were anything but futuristic. Lagerfeld featured tweeds prominently, more so than we've seen in past collections. The fabric was everywhere in an array of different colours, but mainly consisted of jackets varying in length.

Towards the middle of the show, loud prints were used on floaty silk dresses and matching top/short combos, but it was the more refined pastel pink and nude tones which I really liked at the end of the collection. The classic Chanel costume jewellery was layered over slips and silk skirts, with longer robes worn on top. The all white outfit Lindsey Wixon wore was a particular favourite. Of all the 80 something looks, there were so many wearable pieces compared to last spring/summer 2016 which made you wonder how anyone could possibly look good in what Lagerfeld sent down the catwalk ie. A pink, moth holed pair of trousers.

The whole thing made you contemplate the future of fashion and what will be the norm in years to come. Will the Chanel suit still exist? And what will the word 'timeless' mean when describing fashion piece? What will we be wearing in the year 3016? If King Karl has any say in this, we'll all be wearing tweed.

Fendi's Legends and Fairytales Spectacular

Suspended over the waters of the Trevi Fountain in the early hours of evening, 43 models walked angelically across a clear glass runway dressed head to toe in Fendi. From the venue and the clothes, the atmosphere and spellbinding magic of Rome; everything about this special 90th anniversary Fendi extravaganza was spectacular and extremely beautiful.

Of course, Fendi were not going to let their 90th anniversary slip past unnoticed, but nobody could have guessed what Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Fendi had in store for the fashion press for their one off couture show. After witnessing a handful of majestic couture shows in Paris this week, it would be hard to try and top the likes of Chanel, Dior and Elie Saab, whom fashion editors and guests alike were treated to. But Fendi gave it a good go, flying their guests out to Rome on private jets decked out in Fendi gear and then front row seats at the majestic Trevi Fountain show venue. Designed by Nicola Salvi in 1762, the Baroque fountain has stood proudly in the middle of Rome with links to Roman legends regarding the discovery of the pure water source by thirsty soldiers in 19BC. But it is most famous for appearing in the 1960 Fellini film La Dolce Vita, in which Anita Ekberg jumps into the waters of the fountain in a cascading black dress. In 2013, Fendi pledged 2.2 million euros to help refurbish the fountain with work completed in November of last year. No wonder the fashion house chose such a colossal location to celebrate their 90th birthday.

If anything, the venue and beauty of the fountain somewhat eclipsed the clothes. Kendall Jenner, Lagerfeld's current favourite, opened the show in a blue coat dress with a pair of red boots, while Bella Hadid closed in an oversized, embellished coat. Nobody could doubt the craftsmanship that went into these exquisite pieces, but it would have been nice if there was more emphasis on the clothes rather than creating such an ornate spectacle - as lovely as it was. Fendi are famed for their fur, which featured prominently throughout the collection. I loved the fluffy white coat with large colour, and the other decorative styles with hand-stitched images of magical fairy tale kingdoms etched all over them. “I called the show Legends and Fairy Tales,” Lagerfeld explained to Vogue. “Because it’s a collection that doesn’t relate to everybody like ready-to-wear, this is very special for people who have a special kind of life.”

Blue was a key colour, mirroring the azul waters of the Trevi Fountain, with plenty of sheer dresses covered in all shades of the colour. One thing I wasn't too keen on were the shoes, or little Victorian booties to be more precise. For such delicate clothes, a beautiful shoe was needed. Instead Karl and Silvia opted for chunky boots covered in Baroque detailing and laces.

Hair and make-up was something out of a fairy tale too. Curly hair was pinned away from the face at the back of the head, with a central parting in the middle. While make up looked almost Elfish (I'm referencing The Lord of the Rings kind of Elfish here!) with glowing skin and carefully groomed eyebrows. As the lights dimmed marking the end of the show, Bella Hadid led her fellow models back across the catwalk where they all stood gazing out at the press assembled, looking eerily as though they were walking on water. I didn't think anything could possibly top Fendi's Great Wall of China show back in 2009, but this particular show will go down in history as one of the most magical ever.

Why Keira Knightley is the creme de la creme for Chanel

It was announced yesterday that Keira Knightley is the new face of Chanel accessories, modeling the fashion house's fall 2016 collection. For me, like Vanessa Paradis or Audrey Tautou, Knightley is the perfect ambassador for Chanel. She may be British and not quintessentially French, but she has the beauty, elegance and poise to carry off practically anything Karl Lagerfeld throws at her.

The collection of fine jewellery, aptly titled 'Coco Crush' was shot by none other than Mario Testino, with more photos set to be released into the fall season. Keira is seen in the campaign wearing a chic black knitted top paired with a quilted skirt while posing on a chair, head propped up by a perfectly manicured hand. She is of course, decked out in jewellery, from the chunky silver bangle, to the gold necklace, stack rings and black silk headband, while her smouldering eye make up compliments the nostalgic mood of the photo - very Mario Testino.

Keira Knightley has been a Chanel ambassador and muse to Lagerfeld for the past 10 years, first cast as the face of their iconic Coco Madmoiselle perfume in 2006. She went on to appear in numerous adverts for the brand, as well as the official face of their cosmetic range. Fast becoming famous friends with Lagerfeld, the designer created her 2013 wedding dress and has spoken of his admiration for the actress. "She had the least pretentious wedding ever. The whole thing was relaxed. I think it's perfect. After all, they lived together for quite a time. It's not as if she is a young girl of 18 who sees the husband for the first time. She is not a country girl. Yes. I liked the light-heartedness of this wedding."

In response, Knightley has only the highest of praise for Lagerfeld. "Karl’s amazing," she told Harper's Bazaar. "He's an avid reader. And he speaks about five different languages. So he’ll be rattling English to you and French to somebody else, and German to somebody else, and then the phone rings and he's speaking in Italian." She regularly dons a Chanel gown while working the red carpet, with my personal favourite being the beautiful white tulle mini dress she wore at the premiere for The Imitation Game. When attending Chanel catwalk shows too, Lagerfeld picks out only the best dresses for Knightley. "I work well with her," he gushed. "Very easy. Keira has zero problem in her way of behaving and she knows everybody."

Not yet convinced that Keira Knightely is indeed the creme de la creme for Chanel? Take a look through the photo gallery before and see some of her most spell binding Chanel outfits.

 

PFW: Chanel and Valentino lead the way...

 

 

Chanel

I really enjoyed this Chanel show. For autumn/winter, Karl Lagerfeld took things back to basics, without all the eccentric catwalk sets, gimmicks and celebrity fanfare we have come to expect from Chanel. Models weren't walking around a supermarket or emerging out of an underwater kingdom, instead the likes of Kendall Jenner, Lindsay Wixon, Gigi Hadid and Anja Rubik just simply walked down a plain white runway. All emphasis was placed on the clothes which were classic Chanel in every way. There were very strong equestrian themes throughout with all the leather boots, flat top hats, gloves and strings of pearls. The Chanel suit was given a fun make over in hot pink and denim blue, yet the simplicity of beige and monochrome helped add some normanilty to what was a steady show.

 

The puffa jacket made an appearance as did a long khaki coat - 2 trends which have popped up at most PFW shows, while Lagerfeld looked back to the brands heritage around the 1930s with formal suiting and pretty shift dresses, all in classic tweed. I loved the layered silk dresses at the end of the show which came with black collars and belts cinching in the wasit. I also loved the contemporary feel of the whole show, as it was such a breath of fresh air from a very established brand.

Valentino
This wasn't one of my favourite Valentino shows (I am still in love with their Couture show from last year) but it was still beautiful. When Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paulo Piccolo emerged onto the catwalk to take a bow at the end of the show, they were both beaming with happiness. And with good reason too. These designers know how to do elegance, with dresses which look amazing on and off the runway. I loved the nude, sheer pieces towards the end of the show as they radiated elegance.

Jewels came encrusted onto strappy shift dresses, halter necked chiffon gowns looked as light as a feather while layers of black net sweeping the floor on other gowns. This ending was a stark contrast with the first looks of the collection which were all black and very formal, with knitwear and boxy coats making a statement. A bright yellow dress in the middle of the show broke things up a little bit while the looks that followed just kept getting more and more decadent.

MFW: Fendi, Cavalli, Prada, Pucci and more...

Prada

Everyone waits for Prada at Milan Fashion Week. What will Miuccia do next? well for fall 2016, she went all sailor girl on us with models wearing Navy-esque hats and matching blue coats. There was still plenty of grunge in the form of long leather coats, tie up booties, patterned tights and fur rimmed jackets. Coats were fastened with pretty laces at the front, while the pop of red lipstick and slick hair only added to the Prada appeal. Prada do ugly chic. And there's no denying that this show was extremely ugly, but in a good way. I loved the leather gloves and side satchel bags which swung on the hip, as well as the use of floral prints.

Moschino

Jeremy Scott sent a burning dress down the Moschino catwalk this evening. Yes, a burning dress with smoke billowing out of it. A statement maybe that the fashion industry is a burn out... Anyway, apart from that little spectacle this Moschino show was trashy, tacky and AMAZING! From the mini leather skirts and 80s style blouses to the heeled boots and logo-tastic belts, it was all out New York hipster. There was enough sex appeal in the form of shiny hats and boots yet also enough luxury high fashion, I can imagine some of those coats will cost well over £4000. Lipsticks, teddy bears and maximal effect.

Emilio Pucci

To think that when Peter Dundas was at Emilio Pucci it was so glamorous and red carpet ready. Now thanks to Massimo Giorgetti of MSGM fame, Pucci has become extremely modern and very sporty. Geometric sport shapes took center stage today, with splashes of abstract colour on dresses and bomber jackets. PUCCI was emblazoned onto shiny tops, v neck dresses were loose and unstructured while the use of reds, khakis and blue were used boldly. They were colours which shouldn't have gone together but they did, so well.

Fendi

Oh Fendi, you do make my heart sing. I absolutely loved this collection from Silvia Fendi and Karl Lagerfeld. I felt as though I could wear every single piece, and so many coats, boots and fur gilets are going to be on so many fashion editors must have lists for next season. It was big and beautiful, exactly what we love about Fendi, except maybe if you're anti-fur as there was a lot of it for fall 2016. Kendall Jenner opened the show (as Lagerfelds current muse) wearing a black and white stole attached to a navy coat, followed by a host of wonderful pieces. Blue was a key colour, toned down with navy and purified with baby blue shades on leather trousers and fluffy wool jumpers. 

Frills were everywhere, around necklines, on sleeves and even on handbags while the use of colour was bold and brilliant. Lagerfeld always references Fendi's past and their love of fur, so there was a lot of beautiful fur gilets, overcoats and accessories in this collection, adding a lot of glamour. The shoes were particularly interesting, worn with what looked like leather socks. They were extremely pretty and very frilly. A truly wonderful collection from the Italian masters.

MaxMara
What do you think of when you hear MaxMara? Nine times out of ten, it is their classic camel coat. This season however, it was hard to spot one. There were coats, plenty of them in long duster and mid length styles, as MaxMara updated their look this season, using racy body suits and sheer fishnet tights to create a sense of sex appeal. The black gloves and lipstick only added to the vampy look, which was very 1920s cabaret. Large stripes were featured on pockets, fur stoles and mohair jumpers, while polished, sophistication of MaxMara was still very much present.

Roberto Cavalli
Peter Dundas worked his magic once again for Roberto Cavalli, with an electrifying show. Since leaving Emilio Pucci, Dundas has been making waves for Cavalli with his glamorous, jet set style; perfect for all those Milanese fashioninstas (sorry to use that expression!) It was very 70s, with bohemian layering, floaty chiffon maxi dresses, scarves draped casually around the neck and flared trousers. Models looked sexy in satin gowns and velvet suiting, lace paneled dresses and sheer body suiting dripping in beige jewels. I loved the smoky eye make up and snakeskin boots.

Alberta Ferreti
Set on a dimly lit catwalk with a forest backdrop, this Alberta Feretti show was delicate and hauntingly beautifully. As always,there were lots of stunning silk dresses in soft burgundy and beige yet this season the classic slip dress was given a sexy revival in satin fabrics. Satin was used a lot throughout, on a bold red dress, white fur jumpsuit and even a matching green pyjama top and bottom. But really it was the attention to detail which made this collection stand out. Metallic coats looked as though they were made with Italian love, beading on sheer dresses were exquisite while the simple make up and clipped back hair only added to the purity of this show. A nice break from all the va-va voom glamour.