CHANEL F/W 2023 

Coco Chanel loved camellias, and they have become a theme for the legendary fashion house. Virginie Viard's collection for F/W 23 took the flower that inspired the house's creator and went for it. A camellia was placed on every guest's seat, and the set for the show featured a giant white camellia that changed color with the lighting. The show was spectacle to be hold. A Chanel fashion show is an event.

The house, whose signature fragrance celebrated its centenary this last year, is in the business of creating a beautiful distraction. The distraction is from the often unpleasant world in which we live. A Chanel fashion show, apart from showing extraordinary clothes moving down a catwalk, takes the viewer into a luxurious world, where for a brief time, reality is suspended. In the tradition of its founder Coco Chanel and following the example of her mentor Karl Lagerfeld, Virginie Viard took the audience on her own journey of beautiful distraction.

CHANEL

by Virginie Viard

When taking over as creative director of a fashion house as legendary as Chanel, one must adhere to its traditions. While at the same time putting your stamp on it. Viard taking over after the death of Karl Lagerfeld in 2019, has managed to do just that. While still showing the Chanel suits of boucle wool and chain handbags, Viard has upped the femininity and addressed the style of today's woman.

This collection stayed away from eveningwear and concentrated on more day looks. With the mainstay of black and white, there were bursts of burgundy and glints of dusky pink. Camellias were the theme and appeared on pretty dresses, woven into tweeds, and incorporated into knits. The flowers were absolutely everywhere. Shorts for winter are worn with white lacy tights and boots. Platform boots and boots with floral prints are paired with almost every look. And there was an abundance of tweed, worked into short suits, tiered skirts, and jumpsuits. The collection's mood is light, relying on traditions of French chic, femininity, and a retro vibe. Young fresh looks amplify the comfort-driven focus. The Chanel design canon is upheld, with attention paid to decorativeness and details.

 Viard has had the difficult job of stepping out from the spotlight of Karl Lagerfeld. F/W 2023 is the season that her stamp on Chanel is most evident. In this collection, Viard has set a course that builds on the foundations created by Lagerfeld. But she has expanded on the brand by adding something more feminine that better fits today's woman.

 MY OPINION

I  love the classic Chanel suit. The clean lines, tweed, and the attention to detail, speak to my design sensibilities. Few things are more identifiable and iconic than the Chanel suit. While the house of Chanel is more than that classic suit, it seems to permeate every aspect of the brand. Many of the elements of this brand were put in place by Coco Chanel herself. These foundations were added to, and perfected by Karl Lagerfeld. Anyone taking on the job of creative director after Lagerfeld had big boots to fill. The appointment of Virginie Viard was the natural progression as she had worked closely with Lagerfeld for over twenty years. Viard ran the Chanel design studio and understands the brand as well as anybody.

The house of Chanel will continue as a staple of the fashion world, and especially in French fashion. As I look at this brand, I see it as an inspiration for designers and fashion lovers. Most women will never own clothes from this line. However, they can find inspiration from the beautiful distraction of the Chanel runway.

CIAO FOR NOW J. ANDREW