Fashion Week

CHANEL Spring-Summer 2020 Collection

1 October, 2019 Nelia

As you may know already, CHANEL is always my most-anticipated show during Paris Fashion Week. I love seeing the new accessory designs for the next season, I love checking out the new selection of tweed blazers, wishing that perhaps one of them will be THE ONE I’ve been searching for. I always look forward to the reveal of the collection’s theme and the nearly-always-awe-inspiring set design. I know that it takes many hours/days/weeks/months to design a collection, cast the models, build the sets, and put it all together. A fashion show is a result of many hours of blood, sweat, and tears, and a culmination of so much hard work, which is why seeing that publicity-hungry “comedian” storming the stage during the final walk felt so gross to me. I didn’t find it all that humorous when Gigi Hadid had to literally put a stop to this woman’s antics. I hate that Virginie Viard’s first ready-to-wear presentation since Karl Lagerfeld’s passing was interrupted by someone so selfish and unfunny.

But enough about her and on to the impeccable Spring-Summer 2020 collection itself. Personally, I loved it. The models sauntered from “roof” to “roof” in elegant, modern, but still very CHANEL looks in classic shades of black, white, blue and red. There were youthful tweed rompers and jumpsuits that I would wear every day of my life if I could. There were classic CHANEL bags imagined in intricate tweed, chains, and pearls. Bows and dainty CCs adorned dresses and sweaters, with many of the looks cinched with belts of varying thickness. And while I don’t think I could pull off the pleated waist denim the way the models did so effortlessly, the striped knit twinset pairing felt fun and fresh for spring, a style hack I’ll be borrowing next season.

And while I didn’t find my perfect CHANEL blazer in this collection, I did add a tweed romper to my never-ending “dream wardrobe” wishlist. How could I not, when they look this good?

More photos after the jump!
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CHANEL in The Snow Fall 2019 Collection

5 March, 2019 Nelia

As someone who is really into snowboarding at the moment, the setting of the CHANEL in the Snow Fall 2019 Collection was thrilling to see. An entire collection of perfect apres ski clothes showcased in a faux alpine village, complete with Chalet Gardenia, CHANEL skis tucked into the snow, mountain backdrop, and of course, the snowy runway.

This was the first CHANEL show since Karl Lagerfeld’s passing, and most likely the last collection he co-designed with Virginie Viard (though rumour has it he had input into the upcoming cruise collection as well). It’s strange to think of CHANEL without Karl. The two have been inextricably linked since 1983 (longer than I’ve been alive!), and while I’m really excited to see where Virginie Viard will take the brand, I’m also sad that one of the most iconic designers to ever live is gone. To honour the late designer, there was a minute of silence before the show, and tearful models on the runway after, but the true celebration of his talent was the show and the collection itself.

Heavy on the menswear-inspired looks, with timeless oversized houndstooth suits and coats, substantial plaids, and high-waisted pants, but also with a good helping of cheerful bright tweeds, sheer tulle, iridescent sequins, and shiny leather, the Fall 2019 collection had the makings of a dream fall-winter wardrobe…mostly for off the slopes, but if I can get my hands on that fuzzy red CHANEL sweater, I’ll wear it all the time and for all occasions. No surprise, there were also a lot of gorgeous bags and accessories on the runway. As we know, Karl loved a cheeky minaudiere, and this collection was no exception. For CHANEL in the Snow, a ski lift minaudiere was introduced in three colourways, with “Coco” “drawn” on a steamy window. I’d love to see a “Karl” minaudiere in the future, and I wonder if that’ll ever happen.

What did you think of CHANEL in the Snow? Will you miss Karl Lagerfeld’s genius designs? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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CHANEL Haute Couture Spring 2019 Collection

23 January, 2019 Nelia

The beauty of couture is that you can’t really appreciate it from images alone. It may seem ludicrous to spend an eye-watering amount of money on a gown sprinkled with some sequins, but in reality, these clothes are art – each piece exquisitely made, with every sequin applied by hand, one-of-a-kind. So while going through the photos of the CHANEL Spring 2019 Haute Couture collection, I took my time taking in each image, zooming in to check out the surprises that reveal themselves, like the delicate floral applique made out of feathers, or the dried flowers dipped in resin, or a gown that may appear white on first look, but is actually made entirely out of sequins. Breathtaking!

And while, of course, the mere mortals won’t be running off to boutiques, hoping to score one of these looks, I always hope to see the more creative gowns on a major red carpet, like the Academy Awards. Just imagine Lady Gaga in the look below, or Rachel Weisz in literally anything from this collection?! I know that these two don’t work with CHANEL, but one can dream.

Besides the intricate details, I loved the makeup look created for this runway show. Lower lash line winged eyeliner (instead of the usual top) seems to be fairly easy to replicate, and will surely spice up your usual eye makeup routine, without it being deemed too crazy. CHANEL’s global creative makeup and color designer Lucia Pica used the CHANEL Stylo Ombre et Contour pencil in Bleu Nuit to create the smoky effect, CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme Intense Matte Lip Colour in Épitome on the lips, with a coat of CHANEL Rouge Allure Liquid Powder in Invincible on top, in case you wanted to try this at home.

What did you think of CHANEL Spring 2019 Haute Couture collection? Share in the comments.

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Wishlist: CHANEL Spring 2019 Collection

2 October, 2018 Nelia

While it was raining cats and dogs in gloomy Toronto, Karl Lagerfeld installed a sunny beach complete with sand, waves, and a jorts-wearing lifeguard over at the Grand Palais for the CHANEL Spring 2019 show. Pamela Anderson was spotted dipping her toes in the faux-ocean (fauxcean?), but as far as I know, no silly slow-motion beach running was involved. Pamela wasn’t the only one to go barefoot, models strutted the sandy runway carrying their chic vinyl slides in their hands, decked out in the cutest not-so-beachy looks.

The Spring 2019 collection was one of my faves in a while and had a distinct 90’s feel to it, with touches of vinyl, exaggerated shoulderpads, shrunken cardis, belt bags, and stretchy bike shorts. For those of you obsessed with Coco Beach, there were a few really great swimsuit looks on the runway this season. My only hope is that this summer, Coco Beach is more widely available…and not just in those chic Mediterranean resort towns.

My fave pieces from the collection included the wide-leg jumpsuits, boxy tweed jackets, and floaty beach-umbrella printed dresses. I’d made a looong mental accessory wishlist, that includes the woven logo bag, CC chokers, that amazing straw hat, and everyhing CHA-NEL. It seemed that in both accessories and clothing, Karl was once again intent on splitting up the word CHANEL into two – CHA and NEL. And as someone who is referred to as Nel by my closest friends, I am more than a little obsessed with these pieces, because as silly as it may sound, these CHA-NEL belts, earrings, you name it, feel like they were made pour moi.

What did you think about CHANEL Spring 2019? Share your faves in the comments.

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CHANEL Haute Couture Fall 2018

9 July, 2018 Nelia

For most people, including yours truly, haute couture shows are pure fantasy – dream confections worn by beautiful people at magical locations. And having been lucky to see and touch CHANEL Haute Couture pieces in person, I can attest to the impeccable attention to detail, use of innovative materials, and the overall intricacy and luxury of haute couture creations. Which is why after looking at photos of the latest CHANEL Haute Couture collection, I was dying to see what those pieces looked like in person, in motion, and up close, because even in photos, my heart was skipping a beat. Gowns with stunning beaded high-collars, Victorian lace collars paired with puff sleeves, bows, sequins, feathers, and chiffon, oh my! Set against a very realistic backdrop of the Seine boardwalk, the attendees were treated to the chicest Parisian riverside stroll ever, complete with a CHANEL-clad boquiniste, feathered and sequined ankle booties, and bang-heavy hairdos that I’m definitely going to try and replicate for the next gala I attend.

What did you think of CHANEL Haute Couture Fall 2018? Which pieces made it to your fantasy wishlist? Share in the comments.

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Wishlist: CHANEL Fall 2018 Collection

11 March, 2018 Nelia

If at first glance you thought that the CHANEL Fall 2018 presentation was shown outdoors in an autumnal forest, you wouldn’t be the only one. The realism of the faux forest is a testament to Karl Lagerfeld’s determination to transform the Grand Palais into the most fantastical settings season after season and I am here for it. Of course, the decor was dreamed up to complement the Fall 2018 collection, with its palette of reds and orange, moss and pine green, black and brown, as well as a handful of foliage-like prints, and details that included entwined branches forming CCs, leaves chiselled on intricate buttons, and even a wooden log minaudiere!

Speaking of accessories, a new bag, named 31, was introduced this season – a generously sized shopper shown in several colours and finishes, and by the looks of it pretty versatile to boot. Not sure if it’s going to become another classic, but I am definitely curious to check it out once it arrives in stores. CHANEL’s GABRIELLE bag made an appearance in a mini version, printed and in gold leather. I’ve yet to add one to my collection, but I am seriously crushing on this smaller version – super chic!

And while normally, I am all about prints and colours, this time around I found myself entranced by the more muted pieces…that is if you can call a floor-length iridescent velvet coat a muted piece. There were so many beautiful coats on the runway this season that I simply lost count, but the longer silhouettes felt both fresh and timeless at the same time. Take note for fall, and start saving those pennies.

So tell me, what did you think about the CHANEL Fall 2018 collection? Are you curious about the new 31 bag? Share in the comments.

More photos after the jump!
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Wishlist: CHANEL Spring 2018 Collection

3 October, 2017 Nelia

Each season, I wait with anticipation, wondering what theme Karl Lagerfeld will dream up for the latest CHANEL show, and I have to say that this season’s Verdon Gorge setting was an unexpected surprise. To be honest, I’ve never even heard of this river canyon until the CHANEL Spring-Summer 2018 show, but now I am determined to visit it for myself one day! If it’s good enough for Karl’s inspo, then it must be a sight to see!

With faux Verdon Gorge bringing the outdoors indoor at the Grand Palais, Kaia Gerber (looking every bit like Baby Cindy) opened the show in a tweed crop top and thigh-high vinyl boots. Vinyl was used heavily throughout the collection, from transparent boater hats, to iridescent fringe details, to a wide variety of bags…and I’ve never wanted something plastic more in my entire life!

Speaking of bags, there were a lot of new styles and silhouettes on the runway this season – logo totes and duffle bags, vinyl boy, bucket, and oversized tote bags, what looked like a CHANEL Girl bag, but as a tote version instead, even arm pouches and fanny packs! As someone who already has a few classic bags in rotation, I’d love to add a fun piece to my closet, and CHANEL Spring-Summer 2018 collection looks like it’ll have something for everyone.

The clothes were playful and exquisite as always, with signature pastel tweed jackets, flowy dresses, culotte tweed jumpsuits, and so much more. And though I doubt anyone would wear these to hike the Verdon Gorge, but if they did, they’d be the chicest hikers around.

What did you think of CHANEL Spring-Summer 2018 collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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CHANEL Fall 2017 Haute Couture Collection

13 July, 2017 Nelia

Last week CHANEL showed their Fall 2017 Haute Couture collection, complete with a giant replica of the Eiffel Tower constructed at the Grand Palais and an abundance of celebs like Kristen Stewart, Tilda Swinton, and (my fave) Aziz Ansari in front row. The collection was inspired by Paris and Parisian women, and featured tweed suits in various shades of autumn, evening gowns shaped like the Eiffel Tower, flared and curved silhouettes, feathers, oversized clip-on earrings, and boater hats in a variety of textures.

I kept looking for an Eiffel Tower minaudiere, but it doesn’t appear to exist, instead most bags featured on the runway were quite minimalistic – tweed clutches worn to match the tweed coats. Feathers were treated as fur, trimming the hems of gowns, draping the shoulders, and wrapped around necks as chic stole-like chokers. And while I’m not holding out hope of owning any of the pieces from the runway, I do hope the boots make it into stores, because I NEED THEM IN MY LIFE. With laces and a modest height lucite block heels, these boots seem like they would go with everything, while actually being comfy. Here’s hoping.

What did you think of CHANEL Fall 2017 Haute Couture? Are you coveting any pieces from this collection? Share in the comments.

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CHANEL Resort 2018 Collection – Modernity of Antiquity

10 May, 2017 Nelia

I’ve been meaning to write about the CHANEL Cruise 2018 show for a few days now, but life and work got in the way…until now. Unlike many of the CHANEL resort shows, this year’s Modernity of Antiquity collection was presented in Paris instead of the destination which inspired the designs. But of course, that just meant that the Grand Palais was transformed into Karl’s vision of Ancient Greece, complete with weathered columns and crumbling rocks, sparse greenery, and a headless statue of Venus (a copy of Coco Chanel’s own statue that I was lucky to see at her rue Cambon apartment in Paris). The collection itself was both very true to the spirit of CHANEL, but with many subtle (and not to subtle) nods to its Hellenic inspirations.

The palette consisted of neutrals and blues, punctuated by pops of gold. It’s not my personal preference when it comes to clothing, but I did appreciate the intricate vine embroidery and vase-inspired prints. Traditional CHANEL tweeds were transformed into chic togas, strappy heels had Greek columns for heels, and plenty of covet-worthy jewels were on display – from dainty chokers to stacked cuffs and armbands. Standout accessories included a gold coin clutch, gilded laurel leaf sunglasses (NEED!!!), and statement belts, though my personal favourite was probably the metallic backpack in what appeared to be pleated leather. Just like with the CHANEL Cuba collection, I predict the CC logo t-shirt to become yet another best-seller, both wearable and so uniquely CHANEL.

What did you think about CHANEL Cruise 2018 collection? Share your thoughts in the comments.

More photos after the jump!
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Wishlist: CHANEL Fall 2017 Bags and Accessories

29 March, 2017 Nelia

Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to put a rocket ship in the middle of the Grand Palais and still make it about fashion. With space as inspiration, the CHANEL Fall 2017 collection certainly left me star-struck. Astronaut, planet and constellation prints, moon and star jewelry, iridescent tweeds, and even textures imitating planetary surfaces were all part of the dreamy “Ground Control” collection. And while the majority of the pieces were created in a classic palette of black, silver and white, the dreamy midnight blue tweeds studded with beads and pearls (and reminiscent of starry skies), as well as metallic green leather pieces added the exciting pops of colour to the collection.

For me, the standout accessories included the adorable rocket minaudiere, the beautiful CHANEL SPACE constellation clutch, and the star and moon brooches and necklaces. It seems that backpacks are also firmly back as part of CHANEL’s regular offering, as several styles of backpacks were shown on the runway – larger and sportier than the classic quilted leather ones of prior seasons, so perfect for interstellar exploring or the more mundane air travel. Most models rocked various versions of the square-toed glitter boots on the runway, paired with the embellished wool headbands and Brigitte Bardot-inspired hairstyles – lending the show retro 60’s vibes…and perhaps a cheeky nod to the 60’s Space Race.

Scroll through the gallery below and let me know which pieces caught your eye, and whether you loved the stellar CHANEL Fall 2017 collection as much as I did.

More after the jump!
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CHANEL Spring-Summer 2020 Collection

CHANEL in The Snow Fall 2019 Collection

CHANEL Haute Couture Spring 2019 Collection

Wishlist: CHANEL Spring 2019 Collection

CHANEL Haute Couture Fall 2018

Wishlist: CHANEL Fall 2018 Collection

Wishlist: CHANEL Spring 2018 Collection

CHANEL Fall 2017 Haute Couture Collection

CHANEL Resort 2018 Collection – Modernity of Antiquity

Wishlist: CHANEL Fall 2017 Bags and Accessories

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