Chanel Pr
We captured all the action from Chanel's RTW '11 show!
When one hears the name Chanel, images of Parisian salons, candy-coloured boucle and elegant leather quilting generally take precedence over post-apocalyptic desolation, black everything and gothic frippery. Chanel's A/W '11-'12 outing, however, saw the latter take the stage with a collection steeped in dust, defiance and darkness.
The collection was a decisive exercise in monochrome ? stormy blacks and dirty charcoals were punctuated with the occasional moody blue, rust red or crisp Chanel ivory. Glimpses of the traditional Chanel woman were few and far between, with conventions made murky in a flurry of post-apocalyptic dust. When she did emerge, she was moody, rebellious and ultimately beguiling. One such moment saw a tailored cap-sleeve blouse teamed with a long black skirt in layers of shredded chiffon ? pure melodrama that was unquestionably Chanel, but with an element of dark fantasy.
Indeed, fantasy proved key in a collection that saw a melange of urban casual and high fashion. Suiting and gowns alike were grounded with heavy black boots, bringing a show that teetered constantly on the edge of drama into a more wearable reality.
Key also were looks that skirted masculinity while never falling prey to outright androgyny. It was there in the ever-so-slightly oversized trousers and boxy tailoring, but underneath it all were ultimately feminine details, primarily the symphony of textures that permeated an almost exhaustively stern palette. Lace, leather and satin intermingled on models primed with attitude in perfect harmony to their clothes. And it was in this that Lagerfeld showed us the light.
If you're keen to catch the evocative Chanel RTW A/W '11 show, we've got all the coverage you need right from the comfort of your keyboard! Footage edited exclusively for Chanel by .
Edited by Nick Sweeney for
Music: 'A Forest' by The Cure, arranged by Michael Gaubert
Words: Lillian McKnight
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