Show Notes: Chanel Fall/Winter 2024 Womenswear Collection
Chanel reimagines a collection that pays homage to its spiritual home in the French resort town of Deauville
When: March 5, 2024
Where: The setting of the show was dominated by a giant structure sprouting in the middle of the runway. The latter was decorated to resemble a boardwalk, mimicking Les Planches, a 1920s boardwalk in the French seaside town of Deauville where Gabrielle Chanel opened her first boutique in 1912.
The takeaway: Chanel's iconic 11.12 flap bag, also known as the Classic, undeniably takes centre stage in this collection by Virginie Viard. It even enjoys prominent product placement in the show's opening short film, paying homage to the classic French film Un homme et une femme (A Man and a Woman) by Claude Lelouch from 1966, featuring Brad Pitt and Penelope Cruz in lead roles.
A Chanel Classic bag sans quilt? We're sold.
Throughout the 73-look collection, models effortlessly paired this versatile bag with a plethora of looks, showcasing the heavy menswear influences that Mademoiselle Chanel mined throughout her career, which have since become house codes. This is evident in the broad-shouldered peacoats, bathrobe-belted coats, tweed suits, culottes, and drop-front trousers. These elements are cleverly contrasted with flirty low-cut tops featuring flounce and negligees, evoking the daintiness of waves breaking and a soft wind blowing. Desirable? Check. Romantic? Check. Modern? Double check.
The looks we're eyeing: Any of the Classic bags, especially a minimalist non-quilted version we spied (Look 54); the two-toned suede riding boots (Looks 1, 2, 7, 16, 24, 26, 33, 34, 35), the swishy wide-legged pants (Looks 14, 15, 41)
The looks: