Passage to India

CHANEL, CHANEL’S GRAND PALAIS, PARIS; DECEMBER 6, 2011

Held since 2002, Chanel’s Métiers d’Art is a key opportunity for the fashion house to showcase its master craftsmanship, and the December 6 unveiling by Karl Lagerfeld of the pre-autumn/winter 2012-13 collection was no exception. According to Lagerfeld, his inspiration for the collection was, “A concept of India. More Chanel than India. The Parisian version of an India that doesn’t exist.”

The show’s theme was Bombay meets Paris, the clothing perfectly blending influences of the two cities. Models paraded on a circular runway bordered by two long and lavishly set banquet tables piled high with fruits, flowers and candelabra, while a model train trundled around carrying decanters of liquor for the guests.

Among those who turned out for the event, which was held at Chanel’s Grand Palais home in Paris, were Anna Mouglalis, Àstrid Bergès-Frisbey, Cat Power, Freida Pinto, Élodie Navarre, Caroline Sieber, Gaia Repossi, Izïa Higelin and Joana Preiss.