Inspired by the impressionist art movement, CHANEL creative director Virginie Viard incorporated artistic elements such as playful colours, eccentric embroidery, and a distinct celebration of femininity into the French Maison’s Fall/Winter 2021 Haute Couture collection. The presentation was hosted at the Palais Galliera in Paris, allowing the grand setting to accentuate the elegant and sophisticated styles to a handful of guests. Viard drew inspiration from old portraits of Gabrielle Chanel, which featured her in 1880s style clothing, while also examining the work of impressionist painters Berthe Morisot, Marie Laurencin, and Edouard Manet. As a result, skirts resembled brush strokes, embroidered pom poms mimicked paint splotches, while prominent bows paid homage to Morisot’s subject matter. Additionally, Viard mentioned that she wanted to create a sensation of warmth in the collection by incorporating a more delicate colour palette, which recalled English gardens in a very French manner. The presentation concluded with the famous CHANEL bride ascending the runway in a full-length ball gown complete with leg of mutton sleeves, pillbox bow hat, and a veil adorned with multicoloured crystals, resembling classic brides like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, eventually tossing her colourful bouquet into the audience to celebrate the collection’s joie de vivre. 

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Discover Chanel’s Impressionist Fall/Winter 2021 Haute Couture Collection

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