PARIS (AP) 鈥 In a cinematic homage blurring fashion and film, Chanel transported its audience at Paris Fashion Week to a fictional Deauville for its latest showcase.
The black and white film of the Normandy seaside town, starring Brad Pitt and front-row observer Pen茅lope Cruz, evoked Chanel鈥檚 roots.
Fusing the 1920s heyday of Gabrielle 鈥淐oco鈥 Chanel with the drama of the 鈥70s, designer Virginie Viard recreated the founder鈥檚 gender-fluid wardrobe from the 鈥渨inter sojourns by the sea.鈥 Deauville changed the course of Chanel and arguably the Paris fashion industry.
Here are some highlights of fall-winter 2024 ready-to-wear shows, including the latest spectacle from Louis Vuitton's designer Nicolas Ghesqui猫re who Tuesday celebrated 10 years since his first collection:
DEAUVILLE, THE MOVIE
Pitt and Cruz, depicted as lovers in the idyllic town, captivated guests who watched the romance unfold on giant plasma screens, with scenes of beach frolics and bonding over an order of medium-rare Chateaubriand steaks.
Deauville, which influenced Viard鈥檚 fall aesthetic with its floppy beach hats, played a pivotal role in Chanel's journey from licensed milliner to revolutionary designer.
鈥淒eauville is where everything started for the house,鈥 Viard said. It鈥檚 where Chanel drew inspiration from the world around her: the salty and striped uniforms of the fishermen, the speed of horses at the racetrack, the chic madames sunning on the sands.
鈥淔or this collection, we recreated the Deauville boardwalk,鈥 Viard said, with chunky sailor sweaters, dressing gown-style belted coats and strong-shoulder peacoats. The colors evoked the hues of the town鈥檚 romantic skies with pinks, pale blue and oranges.
Despite the poetical musing and finely proportioned coats, the penchant for accessories sometimes distracted from the garments and, at times, muddied the clarity of Viard鈥檚 vision.
The setting evoked memories of a past spectacle by Karl Lagerfeld, her flamboyant predecessor, known for transforming the Grand Palais into a real beach with actual water. Some attendees felt the decor, and the clothes, this time lacked vibrancy by comparison.
VUITTON鈥橲 DECADE OF GHESQUI脡RE
Ghesqui猫re spoke of the collection in emotional terms.
鈥淭his is a particular evening, a meaningful evening. Ten years ago鈥 I remember the feeling of 鈥榖eginning,鈥 the immense joy I felt to be among you,鈥 Ghesqui猫re said.
It marked the anniversary of his much talked about tenure at Louis Vuitton, arguably the world鈥檚 richest luxury house.
Amid a giant futuristic iridescent spiked ball and inside the oldest courtyard of the Louvre, Ghesqui猫re unveiled an ambitious collection fusing seasonal trends which yet also bore 鈥渨itness to a decade of fashion.鈥
The collection's theme seemed to be collapsed time. The result was a display with some standout moments, which occasionally seemed to lack a clear thematic direction. The fusion of ideas sometimes seemed to dilute the overall narrative.
In his signature time-traveling style 鈥 Ghesqui猫re is renowned for his ability to blend historical references with futuristic visions 鈥 silver space-age eye banding met sporty takes on Elizabethan ruffles while opulent fur garments came as surreal, hairy mittens.
The collection grew in confidence, and focus, as it progressed. Structured decorative jackets were exquisite with their gleaming colors evoking Asiatic attire. Some were worn with hipster brogues, showcasing Ghesqui猫re鈥檚 talent for mixing couture with streetwise sensibility.
There were moments of pure fun, such as a structured 鈥減astiche鈥 minidress bearing the Louis Vuitton monogram bag design that had fashion insiders snapping their cameras. Some misses, like a series of pale blue looks, could have benefited from a color contrast to avoid them looking washed out.
The best looks had an 鈥80s punk dynamic. Ballooning hems in voluminous skirts swooshed when the models walked in men鈥檚 shoes, in a trademark Ghesqui猫re feat of subverting femininity.
MIU MIU鈥橲 GROWING UP
Miu Miu鈥檚 fall collection took a playful jab at the transition from childhood to adulthood. Miuccia Prada鈥檚 tongue-in-cheek little sister brand once again addressed profound themes through the lens of frivolity.
Cropped sleeves, rounded-toe shoes, and pajamas with outerwear amid exaggeratedly shrunken proportions evoked the Tom Hanks movie 鈥淏ig." Adulthood was seen as gloves and handbags, brooches and tailoring.
The pioneering designer seemed to say the human condition was sometimes a fusion of both. Sometimes, designs were fused in the collection, such as sweaters, cardigans in silk and cashmere, and poplin skirts with knit, while shearling was treated to imitate precious fur.
Miu Miu鈥檚 creations consistently embody a youthful spirit, merging elegance with playful defiance. This is evident in unexpected styling choices like pairing sometimes clashing classic pieces with undergarments or athletic wear, challenging traditional fashion norms.
