Haute Couture Spring 2014: Chanel

by The Daily Front Row

(NEW YORK) Chanel 
Sneakers have made the catwalk for a second time at the couture shows in Paris this week, first at Christian Dior and now at Chanel. Leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to be so in tune with youth culture at the age of 80. The sneakers accompanied those classic Chanel tweeds, but this time the jackets were cropped and the skirts’ waistlines lowered to reveal a fantastically slimmed waistline. Granted, the models might be predisposed to such perfectly hourglass shapes, but this silhouette will certainly flatter any waist. What woman wouldn’t want that?

Some pieces were reminiscent of a couture gown Anna Wintour wore to a State dinner in honor of British prime minister David Cameron in 2012, like a white floral cropped dress slimmed at the waist by black sequins. Clearly, Karl has expanded upon this idea for Spring 2014. The look reiterated throughout the collection, via short sleeveless and cap sleeve dresses as well just above the ankle dresses. Also on offer: chiffon playsuits in a multitude of colors, like periwinkle, bubble gum pink, and one fun rainbow sherbert multi-colored dress that came with matching sneakers (and a silver fannypack and arm and knee guards!). The latter were scattered throughout the collection in various colors for a sporty touch. Eveningwear met daywear, quite unconventionally so, with looks like a nearly sheer champagne sequined tunic top paired with matching biker shorts, or a fully sequined playsuit. Playsuits and sneakers at couture? Now, that’s quite a statement. To underscore the artfully mussed M.O.? Wild, spiked, and sort of punky hair, and the occasional pose with pieds turned childishly inward. Couture with a pinch of quirk!

The true eveningwear at the end of the show presented stunning, classically glam gowns, like a peachy champagne deep-v empire waist column gown that looks as though it may be headed straight to the Oscars’ tapis rouge. Other frock options included unconventionally spectacular gowns like a black feathered and cropped dress, sporting noir tulle sleeves and skirt. Cara Delevingne closed the show as the Chanel bride in a white sparkly floor-length t-shirt dress complete with a feathery crown, with little Hudson Kroenig following close behind, carrying the train. What could be more sublimely youthful than that?

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