Step into the world of Virginie Viard’s Fall-Winter 2023/24 Haute Couture collection, a remarkable fusion of contrasts and harmonious balance. This collection paints a vivid portrait of a Parisienne who is both delicately sensitive and fearlessly bold.
On July 4th, during the recently concluded Paris Fashion Week, luxury brand CHANEL unveiled its Fall Winter 2023.24 Haute Couture Collection. This extraordinary collection not only captured the true essence of the Parisienne, who effortlessly balances sensitivity and audacity. The Parisienne’s unique and enigmatic beauty lies in her ability to challenge traditional norms and fuse together elements that are often segregated, categorized, and ranked for the sake of convenience.
According to designer Virginie Viard, playing with contradictions, contrasts, nonchalance, and elegance was akin to walking a tightrope between strength and delicacy, which embodied the very definition of allure by Chanel. The chosen looks, literary passions, opinions, and overall approach to life of the Parisienne were meticulously researched and examined. She served as an exceptional role model, inspiring and influencing others, whether through opposition or emulation, and her irresistible allure extended beyond fashion collections, infiltrating the realms of cinema, literature, and music.
“Playing with opposites and contrasts, with nonchalance and elegance, is like standing on a line between strength and delicacy, which, at CHANEL, is what we call allure,” Viard explained.
Paris, the city of love, with its picturesque Seine River and lively streets, formed the perfect, symbolic backdrop for a Haute Couture show that left an indelible mark. CHANEL’s Fall/Winter 2023/2024 Haute collection by Virginie Viard was a fitting tribute to the brand’s long-standing ambassador Vanessa Paradis, epitomizing the sensibilities and charm of the Parisienne.
“If we’re in Paris,” she added, “and this time we’re in Paris itself, on the quayside. The street and the colourful paving stones call for both sophistication and simplicity.” To imagine an Haute Couture show on the banks of the Seine, with Vanessa Paradis as the embodiment of Parisienne allure, was like a journey through a world of images and emotions, permanence and beauty.
The collection captured a range of delicate yet daring styles and allure using luxurious tweeds, ethereal silk chiffons, exquisite organza, and intricate lace – all of which offered a glimpse into a rich, feminine creative universe that captured the very essence of what it means to be a Parisienne.
The Fall-Winter 2023/24 Haute Couture collection by Virginie Viard featured an assortment of stunning pieces, including long, masculine-inspired overcoats, diaphanous blouses cinched at the waist over flat-pleated golden tweed skirts, precious vest tops, pin-striped trousers and men’s waistcoats, a majestic long black chiffon dress that’s light as air, and painted eyewear, all perfectly complimented by two-tone Mary-Janes.
To add a touch of whimsy to the collection, models elegantly strolled down the runway carrying wicker baskets bursting with blooming flowers, even accompanied by a four-legged friend. The designs showcased an enchanting combination of layered and hyper-realistic floral sequins adorning tiered dresses, radiant appliqués featuring fruit motifs intricately woven into crochets and knits, pristine boater hats, a charming pink belted coat dress, and a striking golden embossed skirt suit that exuded a distinct youthful vibe. Described by Viard herself, this collection embodied a truly captivating essence.
This collection seamlessly blended the elements of CHANEL’s classic codes of rigor and asymmetry while exploring an array of discreet and vibrant colours, exuding confidence, and subtlety. It also emphasized the importance of conveying emotions, fusing unlikely elements, and approaching things in one’s own unique way, all while dreaming. “Handing down emotions, bringing the most unlikely elements together, doing things your own way, just dreaming.”
