Paris Haute Couture Week day 2 round up: Chanel, Giorgio Armani and Stéphane Rolland’s models oozed French sophistication, with Virginie Viard’s Seine-side show a particular highlight

Jul 5 , 2023

French model and music producer Caroline de Maigret (L) and models present creations by Chanel during the women’s haute-couture autumn/winter 2023/2024 show at Paris Fashion Week on July 4. Photo: AFP

French stars Vanessa Paradis, Clémence Poésy and Anna Mouglalis all delighted in Virginie Viard’s ode to the city’s Seine-side bookstores and Parisian elegance

Giorgio Armani’s detail-oriented craftsmanship was on full display in jewel-encrusted jackets and 3D floral appliqués, and Stéphane Rolland’s creations struck a bold and poetic note

The cobblestoned banks of the Seine River served as the stage for Chanel’s latest haute couture collection. With the Eiffel Tower in the distance, the well-heeled glitterati of the fashion world navigated the uneven terrain for an outdoor collection that celebrated the soul of Paris.

Models walk beside the Seine showing off creations for Chanel’s haute couture autumn/winter 2023/2024 collection on Tuesday. Photo: EPA-EFE

Mimicking the famed bouquinistes, those charming bookstalls lining the river’s edge, Chanel erected its own renditions. But upon closer examination, these weren’t ordinary stalls. They were artfully curated homages to the brand’s legacy, showcasing biographies of the legendary Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and postcards of actresses associated with the house, such as Vanessa Paradis, a modern incarnation of the Parisienne, who applauded from the front row.

Here are some highlights from Tuesday’s autumn/winter couture collections.

Chanel’s Paris

Virginie Viard described her latest collection for Chanel as a portrait of a sensitive yet bold Parisienne. Photo: Xinhua

“This collection is the portrait of a sensitive yet bold Parisienne,” said Virginie Viard, Chanel’s creative director. “It’s like standing on a line between strength and delicacy.”

Tuesday’s assembly of tweeds, silk chiffons, organza and inlaid lace, in a myriad of floral and graphic motifs, was a testament to Viard’s vision of this rich and feminine universe.

Despite the sparkle and gleam of golden heels and buttons, the collection embraced a comforting simplicity.

Despite the sparkle and gleam of golden heels and buttons, Virginie Viard’s collection embraced a comforting simplicity. Photo: Xinhua

Assured yet understated colours, flat-pleated golden tweed skirts, masculine-inspired overcoats, and delicately structured jackets all played into the subtle allure of the show. A stand-out piece was a dark blue asymmetrical coat-skirt with feathery tulle cascading from the lapel, fusing asymmetry with Chanel’s codes of rigour.