Where was Chanel’s 2023 Cruise collection when the upper echelon flocked to Melbourne to see Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton shine at the Australian Grand Prix?
For the luxury maison’s most recent runway show, Creative Director Virginie Viard satorially referenced the splendors and motifs of Monégasque architecture and culture.
The result was a borderline campy display of what we love most about the lavish seaside city of Monte Carlo: beautiful beaches, high-rolling casinos and Grand Prix grandeur.
The luxurious Monte Carlo Beach Hotel played hosts to the Chanel muses who graced the beach-chair lined front row.
Kristen Stewart and Vanessa Paradis masterfully watched on as supermodels sashayed across the coastline of the French riviera.
“To me, Monaco is a matter of feelings above all. That’s Karl, Caroline, Charlotte,” said Viard in a press release, referencing the former Kaiser of couture and the Monégasque princesses and descendants of Grace Kelly.
With Karl Lagerfeld’s former villa, La Vigie, carefully watching over the runway—an homage to the late designers influence on Chanel and a subtle nod that his presence will always be felt—newcomer Loli Bahia opened the show, setting the tone for what was to come.
Wearing a classic Chanel tweed pant suit, the fire-engine red ensemble was contrasted by ivory stitching to create a distinct grid pattern—a motif which was heavily referenced throughout the collection.
The look was completed by an almost Y2K inspired baseball cap, a nod to the maison’s sportif roots.
The collection saw the models cosplay as the conventional Monte Carlo woman; some referencing the mechanics trackside at the grand prix while others are fresh from the casino floor.
An 80s style boiler suit is the silhouette du jour, with checkwork and grid patterns reminiscent of the monochrome racing flags.
Further nods to the popular Monaco motorsport is seen by a lace glove, evocative of the PPE worn by racers, and the interlocking C logo fashioned into a car badge.
Bringing the motif home is a single motorcycle helmet, adorned with the number 5, the accessory of choice for the jet-setting, resort-wearing Chanel woman.
With the Monte Carlo grand prix just around the corner, we have no doubt that these designs will be spotted along and Circuit de Monaco, and of course, on the deck of super yacht.
