A giant, multistoried bookcase served as the ideal setting for CHANEL’s Fall 2019 Couture Show, the first under the artistic guidance of Virginie Viard. The library theme was a touching reference to Karl Lagerfeld’s famous love for books, resembling -at the same time- Gabrielle Chanel’s library in her daytime apartment at 31 rue Cambon. Honest respect and a sprinkling of nostalgia were there, achieving to creatively enhance Viard’s vision for today and the future.

If Virginie Viard’s first couture collection had to be described in one word, that would be modern. Both the designs and the craftsmanship emitted a sense of minimalism and casualness, rendering the clothes wearable, relatable, and almost suitable for everyday use. Skinny coatdresses with silk satin details, full-skirt velvet gowns, bomber jackets, minidresses and flat loafers, even dungarees and oxford bags, are set to resonate with young demographics currently in love with streetwear. However, classic and retro items had a strong presence too, in the collection. Tweeds, high collars, puffed sleeves, bow ties, luxurious embroidery and feathers kept the upscale DNA of CHANEL intact, proving there is always a way to bring the past into the future, as long as there is a creative mind to coordinate the process.

With a variety of colors, textures and references (from strict Edwardian silhouettes to carefree 80s forms) the show offered a plethora of choices to all those who love to explore different areas of style, while keeping a consistently classy identity. Needless to say Virginie Viard passed the difficult couture test with flying colors.