Since 1854, LOUIS VUITTON has been internationally renowned for its unique, innovative styles that are of the highest quality.
Lagerfeld is Golden A Look at Chanel’s Metiers D’Art
December 16, 2018 8:00 PM
Start with the exceptional savoir-faire of the French metiers d’art, sprinkle generously with ancient Egypt, add a dash of New York City 80s streetwear, and wrap it up in an iconic boxy Coco Chanel blazer, and what do you have? A Lagerfeld extravaganza showcasing the Chanel 2018-2019 Metiers D’Art collection, an annual exhibit that pays homage to the 26 artisanal houses of specialization that operate independently under the Chanel umbrella. But it wasn’t just an homage, it was a SHOW.
The metiers d’art show isn’t scheduled as part of the traditional fashion calendar, so for the past 16 years, it has become the most creative of spectacles. It takes place in cities of Lagerfeld’s choosing that have inspired the look of the collection, from Monte Carlo and Moscow, to Salzburg and Tokyo. And this December, it was New York, the scrappy, innovative, divergent metropolis which has served as muse for both Coco Chanel herself (in the 1930s and 50s), and Karl Lagerfeld (during the 80s, 90s and 00s and now).
To stage the Ancient Egypt meets 80s New York show, Lagerfeld took over the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, an actual ancient Egyptian temple that was excavated by archaeologists in the middle of the 20th Century, and gifted by the Egyptian government to the United States in the 1960s. And as spectacular as the Temple of Dendur may be, it did not overshadow the clothing in the foreground. Think gold, dazzling gold. Beads, threads, knits, embroidery, sequins. Think Pharrell Williams, lithe and resplendent like a young King Tut in black eyeliner, a gold jumper with ornate neck ornamentation, and gold pants. He pulled it off like a noble, but there aren’t too many dudes out there with the moxie to duplicate that look. Most of the collection was for women anyway.
Imagine you had the most talented artisans at your disposal, and limitless use of the materials of your choosing. What would you create with infinite skill and components? Daunting for any mere mortal. But Lagerfeld has faced this remonstrance for three decades now at the helm of Chanel. He is fearless, and so are the clothes. Picture Kaia Gerber in a denim pant suit with bleached decor and a plush collar worn with gold boots and a white Chanel graffiti sweater. Or how about a lush twill suit woven with gold threads atop a white muslin dress, worn with gold shoes and a gold mod pillbox hat? A textured moto jacket with winged shoulders worn atop white leather slacks and a gold blouse. A black suit with golden threadding worn with knee-high gold boots and a gold pillbox. A short-sleeved shimmering onyx suit with a fitted waist, covered with graffiti-style Chanel logos in gold and worn with knee-boots in the same print.
It was head-to-toe splendor, one look after another, from the garments to the handbags to the jewelry. It was everything that a brilliant imagination could conceive of with the limitless skill of the Chanel metiers d’art and the army of couturiers marching under Lagerfeld’s orders. And the front row was packed with a bevy of beauties from the world of film: Julianne Moore, Blake Lively, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz and Margot Robbie. It reminded us of everything we love about the ancient art of dressing up, and the modern world of fashion (which was essentially invented by Coco Chanel). It was the exclamation point on the end of the 2018 fashion calendar. We’re done. We got everything we could dream of. We’ll see you in 2019. Merci, Monsieur Lagerfeld. Des bisous.
WRITTEN BY KAREN FRAGALA-SMITH
PHOTO CREDIT: CHANEL
related posts
Gisele Bündchen escorted the Louis Vuitton trophy case for the final of the FIFA World Cup
CHANEL F/W2014 COUTURE COLLECTION
On Tuesday July 8th, for the presentation of the CHANEL FALL 2014 Haute Couture collection, KARL LAGERFELD, turned the GRAND PALAIS into a huge terrace evoking the décor of a Parisian apartment....
JIMMY CHOO AUTUMN WINTER 2014 COLLECTION
The Jimmy Choo Autumn Winter 2014 Collection was recently released, showcased in their most recent advertising campaign. The campaign’s video, starring British model Kit Harington.
CHRISTIAN DIOR F/W2014 COUTURE COLLECTION
RAF SIMONS travelled back in time to bring us modern clothes at the CHRISTIAN DIOR 2014 COUTURE show on July 7.
ROBERTO CAVALLI AUTUMN/WINTER 2014-2015 ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN
Just Like Marilyn
ATELIER VERSACE F/W2014 COUTURE COLLECTION
Buckles, chokers, and corsets are a few of the details that amplified the 31 looks shown in the ATELIER VERSACE FALL 2014 COUTURE show on July 6in Paris, France. This season, DONATELLA VERSACE...
JAMES MCAVOY FOR PRADA FALL/ WINTER 2014 CAMPAIGN
Inspired by German avant-garde and rigid architectural lines, PRADA’s new fall/winter 2014 campaign staring GOLDEN GLOBE nominated actor, JAMEX MCAVOY, resembles a still out of moody, intense...
LOUIS VUITTON COLLABORATES WITH FIFA
Football and fashion may seem like two fields that never intertwine. But in actuality, both industries have come together in the past and will continue to do so in the future.
FENDI FUN LAUNCHES AT HARRODS
Italian fashion house FENDI brings amusement to HARRODS with its new amazing pop-up shop, FENDI FUN.
HAIR STORY "WALK THIS WAY"
Exclusive Futuristic Hair Story "WALK THIS WAY" is now updated!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial
FASHION STORY "SOUR GIRL"
Exclusive Futuristic Fashion Story "SOUR GIRL" is now updated!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial
SAINT LAURENT PERMANENT AND PREFALL CAMPAIGN
As of last week, Yves Saint Laurent released 45 photographs with their permanent and Pre-Fall 2014 collection worn exclusively by model Grace Hartzel.
TWELV MAGAZINE "JAZZ NIGHT" PARTY
Last Friday, TWELV hosted its jazz party in its 38th street studios. A slew of models, designers, photographers, and make-up artists such as ANSONI made their way up to TWELV’s sixth floor suite...
LOUIS VUITTON 'THE ICONS AND THE ICONOCLASTS'
In light of their most recent project, The Icons and The Iconoclasts, Louis Vuitton has chosen a select set of collaborators that delve into more than just fashion.
MOSCHINO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN Fall/Winter 2014
SUPERMODEL LINDA EVANGELISTA IS THE NEW FACE OF MOSCHINO
VICTOR & ROLF FASHION STORY "JUST A BOY"
Exclusive Futuristic Fashion Story "JUST A BOY" is now updated!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial
RALPH LAUREN X ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS
On May 21st ABBEY ROAD STUDIOS was treated with a glimpse of RALPH LAUREN’s Spring 2014 collection.
FASHION STORY "THE GIRL NEXT DOOR"
Exclusive Futuristic Fashion Story "THE GIRL NEXT DOOR" is now updated!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial
BACKSTAGE #1: METRO GIRL
"Behind the scenes of TWELV Magazine's inspired creations"
HENRIK VIBSKOV'S 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
Last week on May 16th, the TWELV team was generously invited to HENRIK VIBSKOV's three year anniversary gathering at his boutique in Manhattan.
FENDI AND ICONIC WOMEN COME TOGETHER FOR PEEK-A-BOO CHARITY
Some of us may never be as flawless as CARA DELEVINGNE or ADELE but at least we can have a pocketbook that is.
LOUIS VUITTON CRUISE 2015 COLLECTION
Last Saturday, fashion’s elite gathered to witness the much-anticipated LOUIS VUITTON CRUISE ’15 COLLECTION show in Monaco.
BVLGARI EVENT WITH ENRICO BRIGNANO
Known for their bold and florid designs, BVLGARI fine jewelry pieces are instantly recognizable.
TWELV HOSTS FOR GILDED LILY's WEDNESDAY PARTY - FEEL UP!
On May 7, TWELV is going to be one of the host for the Legendary BIG FASHION PARTY at GILDED LILY. DJ is KEIICHIRO NAKAJIMA, YACINE from KITSUNE, and ANSONI's BOYPLAY.
NHK TV BROADCASTING FOR TWELV
Want a look behind the scenes at TWELV Magazine?
TWELV presents to you NHK BROADCASTING’s feature “MY MAGAZINE IS MY CANVAS” in “ASIAN DREAMERS IN NY.”
DIOR HOMME's KRIS VAN ASSCHE Hosts a Cocktail Event and Private Dinner to Fete The Autumn 2014 Collection
In all of our chaotic and overdressed weeks, why does it seem that Thursdays always magnetize the pit of craziness?
TWELV MAGAZINE SPRING PARTY
TWELV Magazine kicked off springtime with a successful party at the GILDED LILY, notably one of Chelsea’s most eminent clubs.
TWELV MAGAZINE SPRING PARTY
Join us for TWELV's exclusive party as we celebrate on the evening of April 18 at GILDED LILY, one of Chelsea's most eminent venues.
FASHION STORY "OPPOSITE ATTRACT"
Exclusive Fashion Story "OPPOSITE ATTRACT" is now updated!
Check inside for the Full Page Editorial
CHROME HEARTS IS BEATING A NEW SENSATION WITH ELDER STATESMAN
CHROME HEARTS, a Los Angeles-based handcrafter of high-end jewelry, leather goods, furniture and apparel, announced the signing of partnership with ELDER STATESMAN.
FASHION STORY "IN BETWEEN"
PAULINA PANAS sports A.F. VANDEVORST for a fashion story called "IN BETWEEN".
Check inside for full pages Fashion Story!
OH BOYY, A CELEBRATORY DEBUT AT BERGDORF GOODMAN
The road to Bergdorf’s is no easy road for designers if the movie “Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf’s” is any indication of the nature of this very selective buying process.
Comfy Confidence
“The Red Sneakers Effect,” a study done by Harvard Business School...
Topshop x Adidas Originals
It seems like sportswear is all the rage these days, and no sooner than fashion month was over, the entire fashion industry started wearing sneakers to accompany their outfits.
Apocalyptic Romance with Gareth Pugh F/W2014 READY-TO-WEAR
Romanticism and refinement are not terms often used in conjunction with the designs of Gareth Pugh, however these words may have some application to the F/W ‘14 collection by the designer, albeit...