Chanel Haute Couture Spring 2016

Welcome to the dollhouse. Karl Lagerfeld outdid himself again, but we never thought he would go eco-chic. After his jet-set runway last season, Karl opted for a more subdued home for his collection this season by building out a wood-slatted house surrounded by a garden complete with lily ponds and blue skies above.

The collection was equally as beautiful as its serene surroundings. It looked ornate and rich as ever, but closer inspection revealed that what appeared to be beading was in fact wood chips. Frills were made from recycled paper and organic woven yarn—even a white dress with a hoodie was made from wild cotton. Certainly not the kind of materials you would expect to find on a couture catwalk. Will the ladies with deep pockets pay for wood chips and cotton? Bien sûr! This is Chanel and only Karl could be so culturally attuned and masterfully skilled as to make eco-couture look so sublime.

P.S. Mica Arganaraz further solidified herself as the model of the moment by replacing Cara Delevingne as the couture bride that closes the show with the Kaiser. Delevingne was instead perched front row with her pooch, Leo.