Karl Lagerfeld makes waves with catwalk beach at Chanel show

Grand Palais in Paris decked out with blue sky and sandy shore for spring-summer 2019 collection

L’Epée Swiss Manufacture x Chanel Horlogerie: exclusive works of art and unique collector’s items

 

In 2018, Chanel‘s watch division illustrates a vision of time that is precious, unique, and timeless. The collaboration with celebrated L’Epée Swiss Manufacture, the Swiss luxury brand specialized in manufacturing mechanical clocks, represents a renewal of CHANEL’s creative approach through table clocks and pocket watches. Once again, Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment at 31 Rue Cambon in Paris, provides an endless fountain of inspiration for Chanel’s design & marketing geniuses.

Chanel Horlogerie presented three exceptional creations, which the luxury house described as “the most stunning Fine Watchmaking movements in the name of creative freedom.”

Born under the sign of Leo, Gabrielle Chanel made this powerful, majestic creature her protector. In 2018, the MONSIEUR collection is based around two exceptional pieces designed by the CHANEL Creative Studio: the Chronosphere Clock and the Pocket Watch.

CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK; photos: chanel.com

CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK

Chanel Monsieur watch collections combines perfect geometric proportions, extreme circularity and refined graphic numerical design.

The numerical figures and the black matte coating reflect the codes of the Monsieur line and highlight the movement designed by the CHANEL Creative Studio and produced by the L’Epée Swiss Manufacture.

The glass case reveals this exceptional movement with its precise manual winding mechanism. With both the subtle finish and the interplay of transparency and volume the Chronosphere revisits the heritage of CHANEL with a modern touch.

CHANEL MONSIEUR POCKET WATCH-
CHANEL MONSIEUR POCKET WATCH; photos: chanel.com

CHANEL MONSIEUR POCKET WATCH

The Monsieur Pocket Watch embodies the boldness of the lion. This unique technically-accomplished piece, designed by the Chanel Creative Studio, is brought to life by a CHANEL Fine Watchmaking movement that was specially designed and created by Chanel’s workshops in Switzerland: the CALIBRE 2.2. SKELETON. The finish of the components of the Monsieur Pocket Watch and the baguette cut diamonds in the middle of the watch, as well as the sphere found on the Lion’s paw illustrate a new level of sophistication.

“This Monsieur de Chanel Pocket Watch has an 18k white gold case set with 57 baguette-cut diamonds. The hands, the chain and the lion are all 18k gold – the lion has a black Hycream coating. While there’s plenty of gold, Chanel has managed to keep the total weight of the gold down to just 71 grams,” wrote gulfbusiness in their review.

CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ TABLE CLOCK
CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ TABLE CLOCK; photos: chanel.com

 

CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ TABLE CLOCK

Created by bringing together the worlds of Fine Watchmaking and artistic crafts, CHANEL adds a new chapter to the Mademoiselle Privé collection story by revealing the Mademoiselle Privé table clock.

Its dial, exuding hypnotic beauty showcases the exceptional expertise so highly valued by the house of CHANEL. The Fine Watchmaking movement designed by the CHANEL creative studio and produced by the L’Epée Swiss Manufacture reveals a precise manual winding mechanism. With an openwork design meticulously created by highly qualified clockmakers, this movement subtly plays on variations of light and finishes.

Chanel Lions
photos: chanel.com
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK-2018-
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK; photos: chanel.com
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK-
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK; photos: chanel.com
CHANEL CHRONOSPHERE CLOCK-2018
photos: chanel.com
CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ TABLE CLOCK - back
CHANEL MADEMOISELLE PRIVÉ TABLE CLOCK – back; photos: chanel.com
CHANEL MONSIEUR POCKET WATCH
CHANEL MONSIEUR POCKET WATCH; photos: chanel.com

 

From hairclips to hiking boots: headline news for autumn/winter 2018

Want to keep pace with the style pack this season? Be inspired by these four trends that will show you know your Gucci from your Prabal Gurung

  • Read more from the autumn/winter 2018 edition of The Fashion, our biannual fashion supplement

Both jewel and watch, Bouton de Camélia makes time reading a precious and delicate moment

  Chanel Bouton de Camélia – an iconic secret jewellery watch with a distinct personality. The Bouton de Camélia is a secret watch with Chanel’s Camellia motif in 18k white gold and diamonds with a high precision quartz movement. Sumptuously simple and naturally elegant, the camellia was Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite flower and has become one … Read more

Haute Dentelle is revealing high-end lace and its use in haute couture today

 

HAUTE COUTURE AT THE MUSEUM OF LACE AND FASHION

The Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode in Calais is holding a new exhibition, “Haute Dentelle,” devoted to high-end lace and its use in haute couture today. Haute Dentelle is laid out in the 656 m² temporary exhibition gallery. The exhibition pathway is made up of 14 display cases presenting 65 clothing pieces from the heritage collections of 14 of some of the most prestigious fashion houses on the French and international scene, from CHANEL to VALENTINO and including Ralph & Russo and Viktor & Rolf.

After the success of the exhibitions Hubert de Givenchy, Cristóbal Balenciaga, Anne Valérie Hash and Iris van Herpen, the Museum of Lace and Fashion in Calais, dedicated to hand-made and mechanical lace, presents the “Haute Dentelle” (Designer Lace) exhibition.

Haute Dentelle Exhibitions
Haute Dentelle Exhibitions; photo: chanel.com; chanel-news.chanel.com/en/home.html

HAUTE COUTURE AND LACE.

“Haute Dentelle” offers a unique insight into the contemporary uses by fashion designers of lace woven on Leavers looms. Implicitly, exhibition curator Sylvie Marot weaves a unique dialogue between lace houses and fashion houses, revealing behind these exchanges powerful creative propositions.

Haute Dentelle Exhibition in Calais - Alberta Ferretti - Maison Martin Margiela
Haute Dentelle Exhibition pieces; photos: www.cite-dentelle.fr/en/

A MATERIAL OF GREAT CREATIVE POTENTIAL.

First inspired by and then liberated from hand-made lace, mechanical laces have been marrying tradition with innovation for 200 years. Synonymous with delicacy, the apparent fragility of the lace is an illusion: its woven texture makes it unravelable. A textile of high technicity, the subject of never-ending design research among
lace-makers, lace has never been so multi-faceted. In infinite shades, textures, finishing techniques and embroideries, it may be transparent or opaque, with floral or abstract patterns, light or three-dimensional… to the point of becoming magnificently unrecognizable.

EXCEPTIONAL PIECES have been selected from thirteen fashion houses: Chanel (11 looks), Christian Dior (1 look), Viktor & Rolf (3 looks), Iris van Herpen (3 looks), Balenciaga (2 looks), Ralph & Russo (3 looks), Maison Margiela (3 looks), Schiaparelli (5 looks), Alberta Ferretti (7 looks), Valentino (6 looks), Louis Vuitton (6 looks),
Yiqing Yin (5 looks), Zuhair Murad (8 looks), and Jean Paul Gaultier (2 looks).

Because of the ultra-contemporary aspect of the lace pieces, all the fashion silhouettes are provided by the fashion houses. The Maison Lemarié has provided samples demonstrating research into textile manipulation. The lace makers have loaned samples of lace, with of without finishing, so as to provide a measure of the richness of this fabric, and also to separate it from the garment.

Haute Dentelle Exhibition in Calais - Valentino Schiaparelli
Haute Dentelle Exhibition pieces; photos: www.cite-dentelle.fr/en/

“Haute Dentelle” Exhibition In Figures:

14 display cases are placed along the exhibition pathway;
14 French and International fashion houses (Paris, London, Beirut, Milan, Rome, Amsterdam);
65 silhouettes from the last five years: the oldest dates from summer 2012 and the most recent from summer
2018.;
65 samples of lace;
15 French lace manufacturers today perpetuate the know-how dedicated to the lace woven on Leavers looms.
This lace is intended for haute couture, lingerie and high-end pret-a-porter.

Haute Dentelle Exhibition in Calais - Chanel Dress
Haute Dentelle Exhibition pieces- Chanel Dress; photos: www.cite-dentelle.fr/en/

CHANEL loaned 11 ensembles illustrating the exceptional craftsmanship of the luxury Maison and its Métiers d’art. One of them, an ensemble from the Spring‑Summer 2015 Haute Couture collection photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, was selected for the exhibition poster.

Lace was one of Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite materials for evening gowns. In a 1939 article, Chanel recommends the use of lace, which she saw as “one of the prettiest imitations that’s ever been made of nature’s whimsies. (…) I think tulle and lace have always lent charm, gracefulness and nobility to women’s elegance.” Thanks to Karl Lagerfeld, CHANEL is perpetuating French lace expertise and renewing it through its collections.

“Haute Dentelle” Exhibition;
Cité de la Dentelle et de la Mode, Museum of Lace and Fashion in Calais;
Calais, France;
to January 6, 2019.

Haute Dentelle Exhibition in Calais - Balenciaga
Haute Dentelle Exhibition pieces; photos: www.cite-dentelle.fr/en/

 

Haute Dentelle Exhibition in Calais - Christian Dior
Haute Dentelle Exhibition pieces Christian Dior Dress; photos: www.cite-dentelle.fr/en/

Coromandel screens, the mythical interior design objects, inspired Chanel’s new high jewellery collection

  France, under the influence of Louis XIV, became enthralled with Asian imports, the 18th century emerging as an age of Chinoiserie, French culture conjuring romantic notions of these mythical objects from places afar. The Coromandel screens — of Chinese creation by way of India’s Coromandel coast — were in the highest demand. For Gabrielle Chanel, … Read more