Chanel opened its latest haute couture show with a model wearing a sheer mousseline skirt suit, holding a century-old fairytale book once owned by Coco Chanel.
The collection used elaborate garment details to narrate stories, accompanied by the Lord of the Rings soundtrack amid giant stage props.
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The designs featured intricate narrative details, such as a dress with buttons shifting from an ugly duckling to a swan.
A Goldilocks minaudière handbag took the shape of a sleeping golden bear, while a jacket lining featured a hand-painted scene from Puss in Boots.
Chanel Creative Director Matthieu Blazy held the historic book backstage, noting that his favorite fairytale was the rags-to-riches life story of Coco Chanel herself.
"She climbed the ladder to find her golden goose, by making clothes for real women. Her clothes were never parodies.
They were rooted in life," Blazy said.
The runway cast featured women of various ages, including a model celebrating her 50th birthday in a red sequined dress.
Blazy expressed appreciation for the backstage atmosphere and the dynamic interactions between the older and younger models during the event.
Departing from traditional haute couture structures, the classic wedding gown was moved from its usual finale position.
Instead, the runway closed with a sinewy little black dress, which Blazy described as a revenge dress that channeled the spirit of Gabrielle Coco Chanel.
"It seemed like the right way to end the story, because Gabrielle [Coco] never got married," Blazy said.
