It’s at the rich heart of the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that Karl Lagerfeld chose to showcase the CHANEL Métiers d’art 2018/19 Paris – New York collection.
The result was a modern interpretation of CHANEL’s vision, coupled with the historical spirit of the space and the House’s iconic savoir-faire. Naturally, and as per CHANEL’s lingo, there was a graphic strength to the collection, as the ultra-feminine silhouettes were beautifully cinched with a wide belt, while shoulders were emphasized with a plastron collar. There were day dresses, suits and knee-length coats, but most of all, there was a wide presence of gold, summoned in one too many ways – from aged gold to sparkling gold, shimmering gold, crackled gold, flamboyant gold, gold tinged with bronze…you name it! The House’s moniker tweed suits were ever-so elegantly embellished with golden vibes, as a nod to the Ancient Egyptian culture. Speaking of, there were a lot of references to said culture, from the tiny stone squares in coral or gold to the mini pyramids and the boater hats – made by Maison Michel – that came in crackled gold leather.
“Egyptian civilization has always fascinated me: I get inspired by an idea, which I make a reality,” explains Karl Lagerfeld.
CHANEL’s feather House Lemarié puts into sight a unique graphic reinterpretation of Egyptian paintings, adorned with feather marquetry. There were hints of leather on pockets and collars of jackets, taking the form of crocodile, iguana and python prints. Accessories such as the clutches came in graphic minaudieres or mini pyramids, proving yet again that the ancient Egyptian culture was as rich as a culture could be.
A mesmerizing tribute to New York was part of Lagerfeld’s collection for CHANEL, as graffiti artist Cyril Kongo – who also created the invitations for the show – designed prints for a jacket, dresses and bags. That said, the streets of New York were ever so alive in a series of denim aviator jackets with patches stitched in gold thread, street art printed leather dresses and pop-colored leather trousers graffiti-ed with an aerosol.
Street Art Deco merged with Antiquity, ancient culture with modern upbringings, the past with the presents, Egyptian civilization fused with the city that never sleeps; this was a Lagerfeld’s masterful collection for CHANEL.
Scroll below to view the full collection.
