Chanel Fall 2024 Couture: Attend the Opera

After Virginie Viard, the woman who was appointed artistic director of Channel following Karl Lagerfeld's passing in 2019, announced her departure from the house less than a month ago, their Fall 2024 Couture collection is the work of the Fashion Creation Studio.

Showcased at the Palais Garnier, an Opera house, the team took this setting as a design cue. Models such as Vittoria Ceretti were adorned in a sweeping opera cape in black taffeta with ruff necklines that framed the face and highlighted the scraping back of hair by a grosgrain bow for their opening looks.

After this, the classic Chanel skirt suit was transformed slightly - again - in salt and pepper tweeds with tassel embroideries or fringing at the cuffs and hems. Elsewhere, it was cut in vibrant jewel tones and embellished with colorful cabochon stones.

Continuing the motif of tweed, a double-breasted duster coat highlighted tufted tweed with a touchable texture. Leaning into current trends, another visible motif was bows, which were adorned on a bronze lace skirt and a black coatdress alongside hair pieces. For those who want to be out there more, feathers are used in this Couture collection on an evening cape that comes down to the knee above a long pink lamé shirtdress.

Chanel have not taken risks in recent years. Looks have been rather stale and social media has struck many a debate about them. You just have to think about reactions to Margot Robbie's past event or red-carpet appearances to understand how united people were in their disappointment for the direction the house took.

So, for their eveningwear, they emphasized a lacquered jersey used for the skirt of a long slip dress and the ruffled bodice of another number. In black on a button-front coat, it gleamed in the theater lights. Expect to see this on a red carpet very soon.

The show came to a close with Angelina Kendall playing the bride in white taffeta cut along the voluminous lines of Princess Diana’s wedding dress. Stunning, right? These pieces had whimsy and drama in equal measure and it was clear as to why they were left until last to impress. There was also a mint green taffeta trapeze dress suspended from black bows at the shoulders and worn over a little black knit romper.

While the future of Chanel is unknown, one thing remains clear: they are and forever will be a talking point.