While it snowed outside on the streets of Paris, Karl Lagerfeld created a summer paradise inside the Grand Palais for Chanel’s Spring 2019 Couture show. The spectacular set was that of a French villa and Lagerfeld’s flowers were in full bloom. In attendance front row were Sofia Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Marion Cotillard, Tilda Swinton, and Pharrell Williams.

The show opened with traditional Chanel tweed, with slender silhouettes and long hems. Models entered via a grand staircase and walked around a square pool, the garden itself framed by palm trees.

The collection was inspired by the 18th century and Lagerfeld referenced design parallels from the 17,00’s with present day aesthetics. The show was feminine, girly and youthful. Lagerfeld varied the iconic house colors of black and white with soft pastels of blues, greens, yellows and pinks. The show featured floral embroideries, slender silhouettes mixed with volume, strapless dresses and short hems, enlivened with sequins. Cropped leather jackets added excitement, and feathers created drama. A standout piece was the spaghetti strap black dress, understated yet still extravagant, it epitomizes the DNA of Chanel.

Lagerfeld showcased variations of black dresses that played with volume and 18th century silhouettes, however the prominent theme was flowers, porcelain, plastic and feather flowers that dominated the collection. Chanel commissioned legendary embroidery ateliers Lesage and Maison Lemarié to create these intricate works, “under the supervision of Karl we have created porcelains, floral embroideries like those that could be of Sèvres or Meissen. Today, we mix tradition and innovation” said Hubert Barrère, artistic director of the Lesage embroidery. “ we were truly poetic in the way we made the flowers with the plastic that we painted, we also had flowers that were made from feathers, it’s always surprising seeing the end result of this poetic and very modern mix” noted Christelle Kocher, artistic director of Maison Lemarié.

Models coiffed up hair, red lips and blue eye makeup gave the show an 80’s vibe. The collection also featured bubble hem dresses, pointed-toe-kitten-heel booties, poofed shoulders and ruffle trims, think debutante meets psychobilly.

The show finished with the dreamiest of finale looks, a Chanel bride wearing a swimsuit of sparkling flowers with matching swim cap and silver veil. Lagerfeld himself wasn’t present at the show but the collection spoke for itself. There is a reason why Chanel is the pinnacle show of Couture Fashion Week.