Chanel Takes a Leisurely Stroll on the Beach for Spring/Summer 2019

The seasons, sets, and prevailing social mores may change, but the core of what Chanel offers stays roughly the same. And that is what the women who have turned Chanel into a multi-billion-dollar global brand depend on: products that are constant, classic, and always fashion-forward. Instead of reinventing the wheel every season, Karl Lagerfeld looks to contextualize his collections according to overarching narratives. In the past, it has been lean, dark dresses paraded through a spooky forest, flashy separates against a functioning casino backdrop, and eco-couture shown against an earthy wooden pavilion.

With the recent acquisition of several swimwear brands and launch of swim and ski lines, it was already obvious that Chanel was in a seaside mood lately. To cement that observation, the brand recreated an extravagant beach inside the Grand Palais, replete with a gently lapping shoreline, real sand, and an exuberant display of models having fun in the sun, all while wearing couture-level designs.

With the recent acquisition of several swimwear brands and launch of swim and ski lines, it was already obvious that Chanel was in a seaside mood lately.

A stroll along the shoreline meant that the models walked sans footwear. In order to address the problem of how to show Chanel’s shoes, the models carried each pair along with them as if their stroll was impromptu. As you might expect, the show launched with Chanel’s signature tweeds, which were lightweight this time around and looked downright casual when paired with black leggings and bare feet. Some tweed suits were reduced to bulky vests, worn over eyelet separates, while others were transformed into short kaftans and lace-trimmed shorts.

A delightful mood was provided by Chanel’s many candy colors and jewel tones, which appeared as playful prints and embroidery throughout the collection. Lagerfeld also intermingled his sturdier tweed offerings with breezy shirt dresses, logo-splashed minis, lace salwar kameezes, and elegant jumpsuits with culotte bottoms. There was a nod to old-fashioned swimwear that came in the form of black sheer tunics worn with bike shorts made from scuba material and ruffled dresses that could have doubled as beach cover-ups had they not been so beautiful and expensive that one would never ever think to wear them to the shore. Our take: If you are deep of pocket and starved of fun, Chanel’s whimsical, effervescent Spring/Summer 2019 collection is your remedy