14 DAY TRIAL // In fashion, designers often believe that white is too tricky a color to approach too often, not to mention use it for an entire collection. Luckily, Karl Lagerfeld is no ordinary designer, as neither is his work with Chanel and, as proof of that, he has just introduced the Spring 2009 Chanel couture collection at the Paris Fashion Week, setting the tone of the next season. White, it seems, will be the boldest statement a woman will make in the coming months.
In less capable hands, it has been said, this show would have turned into a genuine snoozefest. However, Karl’s attention to every little detail that built the atmosphere for the great stars of the show – the clothes themselves –, as well as his unbelievable ability to play with shapes, textures and styles, turned this collection into an instant hit. Moreover, the various tones of white did not seem dull at all, backed as they were by heart-stopping architecture, amazing embroideries and applied flowers.
“The idea was a white page,” Lagerfeld said about the collection days before it was unveiled to the public. For the floral, pristine paradise he created, the designer “wanted everything graphic itself, no bling-bling,” because “everything was so pushed – housecleaning was needed.” Then again, as several fashion-oriented publications have already noted, there are white pages and white pages.
Lagerfeld offered a page that oozed sophistication and utmost luxury, delicacy and boldness, purity and timeless elegance. Accordingly, the reception of this new couture collection couldn’t have been but amazing, despite earlier rumors that Lagerfeld was having trouble convincing A-listers to fill in his front row.
“Certainly, here was no shortage of pure delight, a collection inventively conceived and impeccably executed, from the wondrous paper headpieces crafted by Japanese hair genius Katsuya Kamo to several chic takes on spectator sandals. Lagerfeld sent out fab day clothes working a supernarrow focus – tiered structure in various shades of white. These perched atop little jackets and crisp A-shaped skirts, interspersed with softer moments now and then, and with an occasional flash of crisp black trim.” WWD says in a review of the collection.
The conclusion can be only one: Lagerfeld is a genius, no matter the economic realities that cannot fail to influence his work. In a time of downturn, he offers purity in its strongest essence, without losing one bit of that certain something that has propelled him to the top of best designers. “Recession or no, the belief is that more than a few clients remain plenty flush with cash. Or they can break out the kind of plastic that’s good for the fashion environment.” the same publication reveals about the impact that the Spring 2009 Chanel couture collection will most certainly have on the public.
