Cover Chanel's Metiers d'art 2020/2021 collection was shown at the Château de Chenonceau.
Chanel's Metiers d'art 2020/2021 collection was shown at the Château de Chenonceau.
1 / 1
The collection was a triumph, complete with artistic director Virginie Viard’s signature touches. Who was the only VIP invited to the show?
Additional Reporting: Daphne Chen-Cordeiro
1 / 2
After a few seasons, it seems Chanel artistic director Virginie Viard, who took the helm after Karl Lagerfeld’s passing last year, has found her footing. The Metiers d’Art 2021 collection that was shown at the Château de Chenonceau in France struck a successful balance between Viard’s signature casual silhouettes and rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic with the maison’s haute couture legacy.
Think biker jackets lined with pearls or a delicious cream coat worn over a grey leotard.
(Related: Why The Karl Lagerfeld X Kenneth Ize Fashion Collaboration Will Be A Highlight Of 2021)
1 / 2
The choice to use the château was also carefully made and its elements found its way into the collection. The castle was designed and inhabited by women, including Diane de Poitiers and Catherine de’ Medici, the latter of whose emblem was made of interlocking Cs, just like Chanel’s.
“We don’t know if Coco was directly inspired by her, but it is highly likely because she so admired Renaissance women. Her taste for lace ruffs and the aesthetic of certain pieces of her jewellery come from there. Deep down, this place is a part of Chanel’s history,” said Viard in a statement.
The checkers on the floors of the château were echoed in sequinned skirts, tweed capes reflected tapestries on the walls and the flowers in the gardens inspired the embroideries on jacket lapels.
(Related: Jewels & Time 2020: Chanel’s Latest Fine Jewellery Collection Harks Back to 1932)
1 / 2
The Metiers d’Art show—which celebrates the savoir-faire maisons owned by the Chanel group and the work of artisans at its atelier—was supposed to be shown in front of a live audience. However, with the lockdown in France, the show continued for a single live guest (and millions online): long-time Chanel ambassador Kristen Stewart, who perfectly embodies the feel of this collection.
(Related: Chanel Métiers d'Art 2020 Collection: A Closer Look at Coco Chanel's Favourite Talismans)
Celebrated German photographer Juergen Teller also lensed the look book for the collection.
Topics
Rosana (Rosie) is the former Fashion Director for Tatler Asia. Formerly located in Hong Kong, Rosie now lives in London, UK.
