Maybe it is about time that an airport is named after the famous French designer—Chanel. In the world of Karl Lagerfeld, who, by the way, is slowly forging a whole Chanel planet, a mere airport is just a temporary stop-over for his creative Concord.
The Spring-Summer 2016 collection presented in Paris on October 6 was diverse in looks and materials, yet nicely bound together by the idea of flight and, to a certain extent, comfort.
Among the huge collection of over 90 looks presented in the Chanel terminal, there were the staples such as the classic tweed suit, in both embellished and un-embellished versions. In accessories, the black carry-on baggage set complete with quilted suitcase were reminders of the classic Chanel lambskin quilted bag. But then a veritable plethora of ensembles elongated the silhouette to include A-line skirts and even flared jeans in a softly contrasted botanical print with frayed hems.
Skirts and dresses over pants heralded the marriage of air-travel practicality and glamour, given the sheerness or lightness of the fabrics, while flying whatever class, but mostly private jet. This means that the Chanel fashionista can have play-room when it come to accessories.
There were some demure gems as well, such as a soft pink jacket with the cut of cascading lapels paired with a mid-calf length skirt. A cheeky caftan over skirt outfit had an ethnic air about it even if the print was actually the electronic passenger data board in golden yellow on black.
“I like the idea of beautifully made clothes, used and worn like street wear,” Lagerfeld told the Associated Press; a comment that brings to mind the important distinction between beauty per se, and that which is beautifully made. The latter description can apply to something that is painstakingly crafted out of high quality materials—not an automatic guarantee of ‘beauty’ in the object as a whole.
Point in case, the Teva-type sandals with chunky soles, might be a few twinkles short of aesthetic perfection, even with the flashing runway-landing lights dotted around the soles. And while the transparent peep-toe plastic booties might exempt one from the inelegant shoe removal regulation at customs, they are not the perfect apparel for travel-weary feet in need of air and circulation.
But these are just minor details in Lagerfeld’s grand artistic vision. He is an old hand at steering through the precarious winds of glamor, humor and commercial pragmatism.
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