The Inspiration Behind Chanel’s New Fall/Winter 20/21 Haute Couture Collection

By MiNDFOOD

The Inspiration Behind Chanel’s New Fall/Winter 20/21 Haute Couture Collection

Chanel’s new Fall/Winter 20/21 Haute Couture Collection pays homage to the spirit of Karl Lagerfeld.

The digital Haute Couture Fashion Week has allowed designers to stray away from some of their usual styles and integrate inspirations from elsewhere. 

Chanel’s Couture Collection by creative director, Virginie Viard debuted on the second day of the digital fashion week and displayed a very different approach to stylistic choices than her Spring/Summer Couture collection from earlier this year.

While the preceding collection featured a more dialled down, soft colour palette, Viard’s Fall/Winter Haute Couture Collection showcases bold colours and a more opulent demeanour.

Chanel haute couture Fall/Winter 2020-2021. Photo: Mikael Jansson

“I like working like this, going in the opposite direction of what I did last time. I wanted complexity and sophistication,” says Viard. 

Inspired by Karl Lagerfeld’s ventures to ‘Le Palace’ and the sophisticated and eccentric women he liked to accompany to their parties, a more daring and audacious sentiment is evident in the pieces.

“This collection is more inspired by Karl Lagerfeld than Gabrielle Chanel,” says Viard.

The collection has a punk-like feeling, with sharp cuts and striking silhouettes. “I was thinking about a punk princess coming out of ‘Le Palace’ at dawn with a taffeta dress, big hair, feathers and lots of jewellery,” says the designer.

An almost Vivienne Westwood-esk eleganza can be seen throughout the garments with their rich, velvety shades and valiant glamour.

Chanel haute couture Fall/Winter 2020-2021. Photo: Mikael Jansson

The digitalisation of fashion shows during COVID-19 allowed Viard to add elements she would not do so in a normal live show. She thought to add “things that maybe I would not do in a show—punk hair, fine jewelry.”

Thirty looks make up the collection and Haute Couture customers will receive a portfolio of detailed images captured by Mikael Jansson to make their purchase.

Viard mused an array of things, including the chic and cultivated nature of 19th century art from Germany.

“It’s true that I thought about paintings, but it was more German paintings. But I really had Karl’s world in mind”.

The luxury that is Haute Couture is something that is withstanding the current social climate and its meticulously crafted garments are giving us a glimmer of solace during the sombre days of today.

“For me, Haute Couture is romantic by its very essence. There is so much love in each one of these silhouettes, explained Viard. 

“Haute couture? It’s forever; it’s for always”.

Read more about the full collection at chanel.com.

Chanel haute couture Fall/Winter 2020-2021 full collection. Photographed by: Mikael Jansson

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