Outside the Grand Palais – scene of many a Chanel show – lies a bank of street style photographers clamoring for a shot of one of the brands many acolytes. As these style stars make their way inside, models rush around behind the scenes getting their hair and makeup finished, and squeezing into one of Chanel’s outrageously lavish Couture garments. Karl Lagerfeld circulates backstage, his eagle eyes catching the smallest detail for last minute correction, or noticing the particular fit of a top when it’s finally on the model. The front row begins to fill with the usual suspects – the editors, the models, the scene queens, and the It kids, one of whom is Tilda Swinton who stops to share her views on the “happening” collection. The VIP crowd seems impressed by the sparkle and freshness of the Lagerfeld’s latest masterpiece, noticing that even though it was incredibly embellished and detailed that it still retained a sense of lightness. Lily Allen fell for the charm of the models skipping down the runway in trainers. While everything prior to the show contained a sense of urgency as models found their positions before stepping onto the catwalk, everything calmed when the show commenced. See the video below for more VIP interviews and behind-the-scenes footage of Chanel’s Spring 2014 Couture show.
Video: Courtesy of Chanel