It felt sad and surreal to be watching the Chanel show from home this season – usually it’s the most exciting morning of fashion month.
Nothing comes close to the anticipation of walking into the Grand Palais in Paris to discover what kind of trip Karl, and now Virginie Viard, would take us on. Supermarkets, space rockets, icebergs… the brand’s imagination (and marketing budget) knows no bounds.
Set against a Hollywood sign-style Chanel set this time around, these were not clothes for WFH, but there was a sense of youthful ease and – dare we say it – cool to this SS21 ready-to-wear collection.
Read Next
Bags were shrunken, tops were cropped, sweatshirts were emblazoned with logo prints and the iconic tweed suit was transformed into shorts or mini dresses. There were pink denim pedal pushers and high-waisted wide-leg jeans.
There were more accessories than Virginie has shown to date - from CC hairbands to phone lanyards and glittering crystal belts, all designed to entice a new generation into stores.
But, there was also a lot for the more traditional Chanel client, most of it in monochrome, from perfectly-cut sailor pants to collarless tweed jackets which hung with the simplicity of a cardigan.
However, what is it we want most? A tiny Chanel bag hung from a chain belt, please.
In a year of change, it’s reassuring to see that some things are as reliable as ever.
Like this article? Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
In need of more inspiration, thoughtful journalism and at-home beauty tips? Subscribe to ELLE's print magazine today! SUBSCRIBE HERE
