Lifestyles Breaking News

The Canadian Press - ONLINE EDITION

Karl Lagerfeld celebrates a century of Chanel, with great new concepts for fall-winter

By: Thomas Adamson, The Associated Press

Tuesday, Mar. 5, 2013 at 10:16 AM | Comments: 0

Models wear creations by German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel's Fall/Winter 2013-2014 ready to wear collection, in Paris, Tuesday, March, 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

PARIS - A hundred years ago, legendary Coco Chanel opened her first boutique in the Normandy seaside town of Deauville. Today, they number 300 and Chanel spans the globe.

For fall-winter 2013-14, Karl Lagerfeld celebrated this century's skirt-suited success story in an incredible Paris collection that had journalists gawping at an enormous globe right under the Grand Palais exhibition hall's glass roof.

Dotting the sphere were 300 Chanel flags, each representing a boutique.

"The spirit of the show was Chanel's globalization," said Lagerfeld.

But the show was surely also a celebration of the German-born designer. He celebrates three decades at the creative helm this year, during which he's overseen the transformation of the house into a truly global empire.

"I can be very happy... When I started we had three or four (boutiques) 30 years ago," said Lagerfeld, standing underneath Africa. "But it's not an ego trip."

The show's 79 varied looks brimmed with ideas, classic and new, and showed that the designer who turns 80 this year is still a creative force to be reckoned with.

Models, including Stella Tennant, walked around the circular globe runway sporting stylish new winter concepts in tones of blue, grey purple pink and black.

Zippable leather leg sheaths — like leggings that start at the thigh and ends at the ankle — were warm but allowed thighs to be exposed. And coat silhouettes were cut away squarely in the middle of thighs so legs are visible even on those cold December days.

"It's romantic. I loved the coats," said actress Milla Jovovich, from the front row. "It's early 20th-century Coco, but he's made it uber-modern."

Chained black biker boots also made it fresh. Yet some great pink knitwear looks and revamped classic skirt-suits ensured the core clientele weren't left behind.

At a combined age of 180, it looks like there's no stopping either Lagerfeld or Chanel.

"Look," he said pointing at an empty part of the globe. "There is still space left."

___

Thomas Adamson can be followed at http://Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP

Rate this
This article has not yet been rated.

We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high. If you thought it was well written, do the same. If it doesn’t meet your standards, mark it accordingly.

You can also register and/or login to the site and join the conversation by leaving a comment.

Rate it yourself by rolling over the stars and clicking when you reach your desired rating. We want you to tell us what you think of our articles. If the story moves you, compels you to act or tells you something you didn’t know, mark it high.

Sort by: Newest to Oldest | Oldest to Newest | Most Popular 0 Comments

You can comment on most stories on brandonsun.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

There are no comments at the moment. Be the first to post a comment below.

Post Your Comment

The Brandon Sun does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. Comments are moderated before publication. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.