For her first ready-to-wear collection since Karl Lagerfeld’s death, Virginie Viard took to the Parisian rooftops on an impressive set reserving a vantage point of view to the urban landscape. CHANEL’s artistic director drew inspiration from the Nouvelle Vague cinematic era and delivered a dreamy collection depicting her personal, female vision.

If one had to point out a key element of the show, that would be its girliness. Viard employed patterns, colors, textures and lengths (watch out for the leggy silhouettes) that resonate with the younger crowds and made sure the collection emitted a casual, laid-back vibe, representative of the ‘youth culture’ aesthetic. With Kristen Stewart as Jean Seberg being her visual reference, it comes as no surprise that what Virginie Viard’s inspiration focused on is the mental picture of a carefree, minimalist and stylish girl, out and about.

Tweed playsuits, tiny silk shorts, coatdresses, bell-shaped skirts, silvery and pink metallics, embroidered puff-sleeve blouses and many more items along with the classic CHANEL tweed suit reimagined as a romper, formed a playful, relatable runway, not as much adorned with accessories as in Lagerfeld’s years, but a trifle more urban and simplified.

While everyone is eagerly waiting for Virginie to indicate CHANEL’s new spirit and direction with a bang, this collection proved that change can come from within, subtly but significantly.