Chanel Cruise 19 Runway & Bags Report
Chanel kicked off the beginning of the Cruise 2019 shows on the high seas. Well, okay, not quite, because the show was staged at their usual seasonal collection venues, at the Grand Palais. This time around, it was a Cruise collection, in the literal sense of the word: Captain Karl went with a distinct seafaring theme and constructed a ginormous ocean liner that served as part of the show set.
And, true to its nautical theme, the stripes, short dresses, and high-waisted sailor pants which would give anyone #legsfordays, were in abundance. Tweed, pearls, quilting, and cashmeres, too, formed a big part of the collection, as well as the rounded shoulder cuts that were typical of the 80s (except here, sans shoulder pads). Oh, but as for headgear, Karl replaced those typical sailor hats, with berets and boaters. The huge vessel was also named La Pausa, after Mademoiselle Chanel’s summer house in the South of France.
When it came to the bags, there were quite a few white patent quilted bags, Gabrielle bags with twisted rope strap details, fisherman’s totes made of rope, and even one in the shape of a mini lifebuoy.
The Verdict: Though the Cruise 19 shows have only just begun, I have to say, that Karl really set the bar with this one. I actually can’t remember a Chanel collection that I’ve actually really liked, but this is definitely one of my favourite Chanel collections in a long time, and for all time. I’d wear almost every single look that came down the runway.
