Chanel and Louis Vuitton close Paris Fashion Week AW17 with extravagant shows

The last day of Paris Fashion Week was nothing short of extravagant.

Chanel opened the day by launching a rocket inside of Grand Palais. Miumiu covered the Palais d’Iéna in decadent purple faux fur. Louis Vuitton’s unprecedented show inside of Musee Louvre’s sculpture courtyard Cour Marly was a grand finale for the last leg of fashion month.

The ongoing debate about the purpose of fashion shows of today got a loud and clear answer in Paris: the event remains a large aspect of the creative process of a fashion collection – perhaps even more storytelling than ever is needed to induce a social media frenzy.

Wizard of extravaganza Karl Lagerfeld pulled off yet another jaw-dropping stunt this season by turning Grand Palais into Chanel Ground Control Centre. A space rocket bearing double “C” logos with a launch pad doubled as the U shape runway, and uniform-clad extras roamed the centre, posing with guests for pictures. As the finael countdown began, the bottom of the rocket began to move by means of hydraulic mechanics, creating the illusion of an actual rocket launch. Oh, and there were fireworks – of course.

This painstaking attention to detail is also evident in the collection. Classic tweed suits cut for a relaxed fit and woven with metallic threads tap into Lagerfeld’s futuristic theme. Light and billowy flou dresses feature astronaut prints, while metallic leather pants inserted with tweed panels.

Models wore rhinestone-adorned headbands as they became something like space princesses. The metallic two-toned boots and space-themed novelty bags, such as the lacquered spaceship chain bag, will be the season’s most coveted accessories.

At Louis Vuitton, guests were impressed not by a theatrical set up, but the sheer privilege to see Nicholas Ghesquière’s latest collection alongside neoclassical sculptures circa 17th-18th century.

It was the first time a fashion show has been held in Louvre’s central sculpture atrium.