The annual metiers d’art collection by Chanel has launched at the maison’s Ngee Ann City and Marina Bay Sands boutiques. While Covid-19 and the circuit-breaker might have delayed the drop by a bit, we say that all good things come to those who wait.
Traditionally a showcase of the craftsmanship of the various Chanel ateliers like Goossens, Lesage and Montex, this year’s metiers d’art collection, dubbed ‘Paris-31 rue Cambon’, takes inspiration from Coco Chanel’s apartment which has become both the spiritual home and living inspiration for the maison.
Like the opulent and gilded interiors of the apartment, the collection is one shiny gleaming outing imbued with youthful and irreverent glamour and embellishments. “This is the return to the codes and the very first metiers d’art show in 2002, which actually took place in the salons, at 31 rue Cambon. That show was very dear to me,” said artistic director Virginie Viard in a statement. “The models smoked cigarettes while listening to Lou Reed. It was more of an attitude than a theme.”
Spot some of Coco Chanel’s favourite design codes like the wheat bouquets which used to decorate her mantlepiece and corners of the apartment. The motif appears on earrings as well as the sequinned embroidery by the Lemarie workshop. Other house codes like the camellia flower can be seen as motifs on costume jewellery designs as well as prints on feathers for the ready-to-wear pieces.
The bow, a design element often revisited by Virginie Viard, is ubiquitous in the collection. Of note are the little bow accents on Mary Janes and pumps which gave the footwear a witty ‘tuxedo’ effect. Peep them up close in the exclusive video above.
To fete the launch of the collection, Chanel has also released a short film (above) by Roman and Sofia Coppola featuring guests and models at a soiree in Paris’ iconic La Coupole restaurant right after the metiers d’art show on Dec 4.
Dressed in the 31 rue Cambon pieces, models like Vittoria Ceretti, Gigi Hadid, Rebecca Leigh Longendyke and Pan Haowen, showed another aspect of the collection: that they are party-ready. It will be a while till we can be doing that – but as they say, all good things come to those who wait.
