“Even the sun is in Chanel”

Karl Lagefeld and the shows he puts on are never anything short of epic. If someone knows how to keep fashion innovative and buzzing, it’s him. This year’s Chanel Cruise collection in St. Tropez was definitely out of this world…all I can say is that I really, really, really wish I’d been there to experience it. Read the timeline below and look at the pictures and you will be pining away with me.

First, Karl sets the stage by releasing his short film “Remember Now”, which you can check out in the post below. Starring Pascal Gregory and Elisa Sednaouiet, the film is set in St. Tropez and circles around a glamorous crowd’s adventures over the span of one night.

Then, the day before the show, Karl hosts a pétanque (bocce ball) tournament. Totally a normal, casual day throwing some balls around…oh, except for Diane Kruger was there, and Baptiste Giabiconi, and there was a pearl-adorned silver cup for the winners, and Chanel-monogrammed balls….so maybe a little bit out of the ordinary.

Then the show to end all shows…instead of boring you with an exhaustive step-by-step of the show, I will simply set the scene for you:

An open road in Saint Tropez, guests including Vanessa Paradis, Diane Kruger, Elisa Sednaoui, Gaspard Ulliel, Juliette Greco, and Anna Mouglalis snacking and drinking and smoking (of course smoking…this is Saint Tropez after all) at the famed Café Sénèquier, André Leon Talley majorly clashing with the café’s red decor in his lime green cape, a brass band playing an opening of Mungo Jerry’s In the Summertime, models begin being shuttled from the yacht to the street by “Riva” motorboats, cue Rolling Stones music, and then the show officially begins…

Think 70’s sexiness, amber, pastels, camel, khaki, blue anise hued nailpolish, turquoise, Bianca Jagger, suede, gladiator sandals, squat kitten heels (which is a serious blow to my deep love of high-high-high heels), bare-feet, ankle bracelets, Brigitte Bardot, gingham, floppy hats, jumpsuits in silk and chiffon, bleached denim, maxi dresses, tunics, flared pants, metallic hot pants, the classic tweed jackets laced with metallic copper thread….

And the finale to the show? Fashion darling Georgia May Jagger pulling in on the back of a Harley Davidson to the music of her dad, reincarnated as a modern Brigitte Bardot. In fact, the whole show was very Brigitte, which makes me very happy because she has always been such a huge personal influence to me (barring the racism later in life…that I don’t advocate or emulate!).

Karl looked very dapper too in his purple suit and silver studded gloves…you’ve gotta love the man.

What I think is so great about this collection is that it is a very obvious throw-back to a time in Saint Tropez that was marked by extreme joie de vivre…both on a personal level and on a global level, I think that that spirit is so needed right now. It’s definitely a very special thing when a single collection like this can collectively inspire people to lead their lives a bit differently, perhaps with a bit more happiness.

On a slightly more shallow note, I also really need some gladiator sandals now.

Images courtesy of garancedore.fr.en, fashionologie.com, and rdujour.com