Anybody for Samosas? Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Collection
For Pre-Fall 2012, Fashion GOD, Karl Lagerfeld decided to be inspired by India, even though he has supposedly never been there. Lagerfeld--always a genius in terms of knowing "the latest and greatest" and what's hot--or going to be "HOT", for that matter-- decided that his next collection, the Pre-Fall Métiers d'Art 2012, would be all about India.
Fashion Feast: The Invitation (top photo) and the scene at Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 at the Grand Palais in Paris
The inspiration was "Paris-Bombay" to be exact, and it was a "Diwali" Feast with a runway designed like one UBER fabulous Bombay Banquet. There was even a mini "Chanel Choo Choo Train" traveling throughout the banquet table during the entire show. He's not dumb: guess what country is one of the most up-and-coming luxury-brand loving markets? Yep, India. How best to capture the attention of all those new millionaires and upwardly-mobile middle class in Bombay than to have a fab chic collection based on their Land.
Model Stella Tennant, Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 tweed boucle suit
Maharajah: Chanel Pre-Fall 2012, notched-collar suit with satin turban, modeled by Lagerfeld "boy toy" fave, model Baptiste Giabiconi
The Métiers d'Art Collection is like Pseudo-Couture. The pieces are just that much better than the regular Pret-a-Porter pieces that one would usually see at a "regular" Chanel Runway Show as well as the Chanel Boutique. The pieces have elements of the already exquisitely-made Chanel Pret-a-Porter but just that much added refinement, hand-work, uniqueness to also make them "cousins" of the super-expensive one-of-a-kind Haute Couture.
Androgynous Mumbai: Chanel Pre-Fall 2012, creme shirt-blouse with tie, black-and-creme tea-length flared skirt
The embroideries were by the famed House of Lesage; head pieces by Maison Michel for Chanel; and the shoes, by Massaro for Chanel. So basically, a regular Chanel Pret-a-Porter jacket will set you back about $3,000. A Haute Couture one: $30,000. A Métiers d'Art one: just in between.
Chanel Pre-Fall 2012: Bubblegum pink boucle front cut-out jacket, gold lame skirt
Model Crystal Renn, Chanel Pre-Fall 2012, gold lace dress with head-shawl
Model Arizona Muse, looking very "Cleopatra" as opposed to "Bombay Diva", Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 white sleeveless placket-front dress
Mother-Daughter Model Fabulous: 47 year-old Yasmin Le Bon (looking AMAZING!)--wife of Duran Duran's Simon Le Bon--and her 22 year-old daughter Amber Le Bon, hitting the catwalk at Chanel Pre-Fall 2012--PS: they look like SISTERS!
Click Below for the Full Chanel Pre-Fall 2012 Métiers d'Art "Paris-Bombay" Collection:
