Karl Lagerfeld doesn’t do things by halves. For this season’s spectacular couture show, it was the turn of the Eiffel Tower to get the Chanel treatment, as models walked under the arched legs of a reconstruction in Paris’s Grand Palais.
Models in circular-bottomed, black gowns on the Chanel couture autumn/winter 2017/2018 catwalk.Photograph: Francois Mori/AP
Returning to the wide, exaggerated silhouette he championed in his last haute couture collection, the effect was bold and modern, while maintaining Chanel’s classic love of tweed.
Tweed hats, giant earrings and rainbow ombré eye shadow.Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty ImagesDominican model Lineisy Montero on the Chanel Couture catwalk.Photograph: Etienne Laurent/EPAPlumed shoulders and a long-layered shift dress at Chanel.Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/ReutersThe models wore tweed with circular embellishments.Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty Images
Makeup was 80s meets birds of paradise.
Voluminous tweed coats formed part of the new Chanel silhouette.Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Buttoned up
You are never that far from a two-piece suit at a Chanel show, and Monsieur Lagerfeld riffed on the iconic tweed suit, adding boaters to match.
Oversized jackets with patent ankle boots on the Chanel couture catwalk. Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ImagesA long-line tweed coat with matching boater hat.Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Jacket sleeves were curved and exaggerated, hemlines low.
Cream and white, Chanel’s take on the classic bridal gown.Photograph: WWD/REX/Shutterstock
Bridal
Bridal typically closes the Chanel couture show.
A model presents a creation by German designer Karl Lagerfeld.Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
This season’s take was a simple white dress that flared just above the waist, embellished with ruffles and finished with a simple net train.
Oversized circular feathered pockets on a suit.Photograph: Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Details
Feathers decorated pockets, hemlines, collars and sleeve cuffs.
Feather-embellished sleeves at Chanel.Photograph: Maitre/WWD/REX/ShutterstockCircular shoulder and collar detail on boucle dress.Photograph: Maitre/WWD/REX/ShutterstockAnkle boots covered with tweed with a perspex-block heel.Photograph: Maitre/WWD/REX/ShutterstockBlack patent perspex-block-heel ankle boots.Photograph: Maitre/WWD/REX/Shutterstock
Victoriana-style black patent boots were everywhere – the old-fashioned shape contrasting with a contemporary perspex-block heel.
Pharrell Williams and Helen Lasichanh.Photograph: Jacopo Raule/GC Images
Star power
It was a starry affair. Pharrell, who arrived with wife, Helen Lasichanh, went for multicoloured tie-dye complete with a statement to get the cogs whirring: “We are all powered by the sun.”
Kristen Stewart arriving at the Chanel show.Photograph: Jacopo Raule/GC ImagesKaty Perry arriving at the Chanel show.Photograph: Jacopo Raule/GC Images
Return to the forbidden planet … Kristen Stewart (left), in a spaceman grey-silver jumpsuit, and Katy Perry, wearing an astronaut print, both attended.
Cara Delevingne, in Chanel, showcasing her new buzzcut.Photograph: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Peroxide blonde buzzcuts – with frosted tips in Stewart’s case – were out in full force. Here is model Cara Delevingne sporting hers.
Julianne Moore in Chanel.Photograph: Stephane Cardinale/Corbis via Getty ImagesModel, author, and designer Ines De La Fressange.Photograph: Swan Gallet/WWD/REX/Shutterstock
Julianne Moore and Ines De La Fressange arriving for the show.
Karl Lagerfeld received a standing ovation on the catwalk Chanel show.Photograph: WWD/REX/Shutterstock
Karl Lagerfeld received a standing ovation after the show. He has today been awarded Paris’ highest honour, the Grand Vermeil medal.
