I'm in love with Karl Lagerfeld's Spring 2010 RTW collection for Chanel shown in Paris yesterday. Still trying to get all the deets on hair and beauty, which was stunningly feminine, but will share what I know at this point as I just can't wait. x




The catwalk: country life amid a farmhouse reminiscent of Marie Antoinette's petit hameau. The clothing - exquisite. Models looking like Bardot-esque french maidens daintily clad in pale pink, white, black and gray painstakingly beautiful creations of tweed, lace, hems with frayed edges, sheer ribbons woven into fabric accentuated clothing and accessories, jackets belted and loose, suits and skirts cut into sculpted bells, floral frocks, high-heeled clogs - Lagerfeld nicknamed "5 o'clogs" - and flowered heels befitting of a queen. An occasional piece in french red or pale, shimmering gold enlivened the collection, adding warmth and intrigue. Sheer, delicate red, white and blue dresses lent the spirit of Paris in springtime to the show.




Of course, already firing up twitter waves, the blogosphere and online beauty mags alike is the revelation of Chanel Beauty Creative Director Peter Philips' nail polish for the season, a blended purplish, taupey gray, which is being compared to OPI's You Don't Know Jacques and Parlez Vous as well as Sephora's Metro Chic (a creation by OPI as well). Well, we knew taupey grays were gonna be BIG come fall, didn't we? Looks like they'll be around, in varying shades and mutations, for a while.



Lagerfeld left no detail unchecked; and would we expect anything less? Current muse and face of the new Coco Cocoon handbag collection for Chanel, Lily Allen, performed the show opener beneath a rustic pergola. Fair french countryside maidens romped through the hay adorned with soft penciled tattoos displaying iconic Chanel imagery and faux chain garters (the temporary tatts - a popular trend throughout Spring 2010 fashion shows, e.g. Rodarte, Galliano too). Lagerfeld took his ending walk down the runway amidst a staged menage a trois delighting in a playful romp in the hay. The collection, as the show itself, is such a splendid treat in visual stimulation, it's almost too gluttonous for earthly consumption. Just delicious!

images: elle, wwd, nymag