Charlotte Casiraghi captivated the audience with her stunning performance at Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2022 Haute Couture show. Riding on her horse Cusco, Princess Charlotte of Monaco made a grand entrance wearing an elegant Chanel wool bouclé couture jacket adorned with jeweled buttons. The show, held at the reinvented Grand Palais Éphémère in Paris, showcased a metaphysical set and a constructivist collection created by Virginie Viard and artist Xavier Veilhan.
The set itself was a spectacle to behold, with twisting sandy catwalks, core carpet platforms, and tubular seating. Giant rings and moving rosettes provided striking backdrops for the celebrities in attendance, including the likes of Elsa Zylberstein, Pharrell Williams, Margot Robbie, Sofia Coppola, and Vanessa Paradis.
The show featured magnificent 20-square meter Andon lights, enormous pill-shaped sculptures, and massive box sculptures. Adding to the uniqueness of the event, DJ Sebastien Tellier stood on a 10-meter high plateau, providing an electronic funk soundtrack throughout the show. The collection drew inspiration from the graphic designs and shapes of the 1920s but infused it with a modern twist.
Viard presented a lineup of crisp pants suits and coat-dresses in a variety of colors, paired with stylish two-tone Mary-Jane shoes. The collection also featured cutaway skirts and knee-length lace shirts, creating a unique and fashionable look. For evening wear, Viard showcased chiffon cocktails and columns paired with bouclé wool biker jackets and boleros. The show culminated in a stunning long, embroidered dress adorned with constructivist camellias in black, white, and coral beads, worn over a black jacket.
What set this show apart was the whimsical element of equestrianism. Video projections of Casiraghi and her horse Cusco were displayed throughout the show, adding an enchanting touch. The collaboration between Viard and Xavier Veilhan, who shared a similar artistic spirit with the late Karl Lagerfeld, brought the whole concept together seamlessly.
This show was particularly significant as it marked the first Chanel event since the appointment of Leena Nair as the new CEO. Nair, previously the director of human resources at Unilever, will officially assume her role on February 1st. Although Nair was not present at the show, the current CEO, Alain Wertheimer, sat in the second row, capturing the show on his iPhone and showing signs of satisfaction as a luxury boss.
With the success of this show, any doubts about Viard’s creative vision should be put to rest. The combination of the stunning set, breath-taking collection, and Charlotte Casiraghi’s opening act made it a spectacle to remember. Chanel continues to impress and push the boundaries of haute couture.
Links:
1. Chanel Official Website
2. Grand Palais Éphémère Official Website
