Chanel turned the humble vest into an elaborate tapestry that nodded to the fashion brand’s African inspirations. The layering piece came heavily embroidered with beads and pearls, sometimes arranged in geometric patterns that recalled those seen in traditional African textiles. The effect of the vest, when paired with tweeds and sweaters, was undeniably striking.

The ‘70s mood of the collection was clear. The figures of Chanel’s models were elongated via flared tweed pants that moved elegantly with their wearer’s struts, revealing their peep-toe platform shoes. Plenty of fashion brands, such as Valentino and Versace, have recently offered their own iterations of the ’70s “party shoes”, as they were then called. But we have a feeling that Chanel’s platforms will dominate the next season, given that they come in versatile colours like black, brown and red, and are adorned with the Chanel logo.

Trust Chanel to elevate a pair of everyday jeans to covetable, couture-worthy pieces. This season, Chanel introduced jeans in printed denim adorned with its logo and floral icon, the camellia. Another must-have was the French fashion brand’s take on the Canadian tuxedo, featuring patchwork jeans that were lined with stripes of tiny sequins—intricate handiwork that could have only come out of Chanel’s ateliers.

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Capturing the essence of disco glamour, Chanel sent models down the runway in monochromatic ensembles that stood out with their shine. That included flowing blouses adorned with sparkling rhinestone collars and cuffs, or tunic dresses with a silver mesh plastron and tie on the front. No jewellery was necessary with all that dazzle, but that didn’t stop Chanel from styling models in oversized crystal earrings and crystal fringe chokers, too.

There was a plethora of accessories vying for our attention this season, but the most striking of all were the earrings that came in the shape of Chanel’s icons, such as its classic handbags and the Chanel No. 5 perfume. These emblems also appeared as pendants on necklaces, and the maison also offered actual micro bags decked in pearls that were worn crossbody or as belts. Fun and frivolous on the surface, these mini accessories were also stunning examples of Chanel’s detailed craftsmanship—which is what its Métiers d’Art collections strive to showcase, after all.

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