Chanel Printemps / Eté 2011 Prêt-à-porter défilé de mode

Chanel Printemps / Eté 2011 Prêt-à-porter défilé de mode

Chanel has always been one of my favourite designers! Chanel is as well known for its classy and feminine designs as it is for its elaborate and breathtaking fashion shows….

The spring/ summer 2011 ready to wear show did not disappoint…the surreal dream-like setting complimented the gorgeous clothes. The 18-minute show whirls one into a world of style and beauty as lavish and spectacular as Coco herself…

Taking place in Paris, at the Grand Palais this show filled 3,000 seats, dressed nearly 90 models and featured a stunning 80-piece orchestra! The Grand Palais had the look and feel of a majestic “indoor courtyard” with huge fountains and a monochromatic ornamental garden filled with topiaries and fountains.

The clothes matched the beautiful venue and Karl Lagerfeld, the creative director of Chanel outdid himself with elegant and appealing peices. When asked the inspiration for the collection Karl responded: “For me the inspiration was definitely the feathers!”

…And the feathers were very much a part of the show! Carmen Kass wore a beautiful peachy pink feathery dress that looked stunning due to the way the feathers swayed as she moved. (That dress was a personal favourite!) 

Texture was noted throughout the show, as almost all of the clothing had a fraying or feathery edge. This effect added unique feeling to the clothing, modernizing the classic label. Each piece of clothing told a story and the care that had been put into them was inevitable!

Aside from feathers, monochrome was big! It was not only present in the scenery but in the clothing as well! Blacks, whites and grays captured the sophisticated Chanel essence while light pinks, blues and yellows made contrasting appearances in the forms of skirts, blazers and dresses!

The dresses were all very flowy and loose fitting and grazed between the mid thighs and mid calf in a graceful way. A personal favourite piece in the show was the stunning over sized black parasols. The parasols were very glamorous and had an aristocratic feel to them.

The simplicity of the models hair and makeup added an edgy touch to the classy clothing. All models donned black eye makeup best characterized as a Smokey raccoon eye and light pink or nude lip colour. The hairstyle: a low ponytail parted in the center glamorized by a beaded or feathery bauble.

The Chanel Spring/Summer ready to wear show was dazzling and the clothes were striking. The collection will be available in boutiques in March! Take inspiration from this collection for your own spring/ summer wardrobe by looking out for flowing dresses in monochrome fabrics, tweed blazers and skirts in pale yellows, pinks and blues and of course something...feathery!