Long before the Bow Lady became a fashion icon with her flirty glamour, there was Chanel. This morning at Paris Fashion Week, the French house wrapped the Grand Palais in a giant black ribbon in celebration of one of its most beloved motifs. (The motif harkens back to the braids embroidered on Gabrielle Chanel’s early creations.)
The installation was designed by Willo Perron, and the inspiration for the ribbon extended to the entire collection at the brand’s own creative studio (incoming artistic director Matthieu Blazy will stage his first show in October). Under the watchful eyes of Tyla, Raye and Camila Cabello, the show explored the many uses of the theme.
Bows, both real and trompe l’oeil, adorned the collars and cuffs of jackets. Festive ribbon prints wrapped around dresses. Playful bows were dotted in the models’ hair. Oversized bows were embellished on white shirts.
Ribbons weren’t the only strand of Chanel’s DNA that received a nod today. Strings of pearls were also used on many looks. They appeared on bags, including a crossbody bag that looked like a giant necklace hanging from the shoulder (one of the collection’s many clever uses of proportion), and on clever ankle boots whose heels were made of a giant pearl.
Classic Chanel bouclé and tweed were also on display. Paired with light tulle and colorful patterns, these fabrics were given a modern twist by the design team. Some looks were accessorized with matching straw hats, another nod to Chanel’s history. And the camellia – Coco Coco’s favorite flower – naturally made its way to the show, reinterpreted as a ribbon on the neckline of a sweater dress.