The trend has been to take the fashion shows outside the fashion capitals in the recent years, and Chanel took it to another level when it staged the Chanel Coco Cuba Cruise 2017 show in Havana, Cuba. The show had a lot of cultural significance as it was the first time in 40 years that a U.S. Cruise ship docked on Cuban waters. The show took place under the open air in El Paseo del Prado, Havana’s most impressive street which is the dividing line between Old and New Havana. 700 guests were chauffeured to the venue in candy-colored vintage convertibles of the likes of Buicks, Cadillacs, and Oldsmobiles.
The collection took its inspiration from everything Cuban while still retaining the Parisian vibe of the French brand. The collection itself was very Chanel-esque, classy and sophisticated, but also surprisingly summery and casual. The brand’s press release stated, ‘The palette is inspired by the vibrant baroque facades of the old town: yellow, pink, orange, turquoise, bright green burst and sparkle over the marvelous sequined and embroidered short little dresses, the chasuble-dresses in coral orange embroidered tweed. The same chromatic affirmation goes for the strapless dresses in sequins, with puffed sleeves, with fringes and feathers. The tobacco and Havana tones are reminiscent of the Cuban Picasso, Wifredo Lam. The blacks and the whites are shadowy, cloudy, and smoky.’ The models took to the ramp in two-toned, lace-up spectator shoes and shower sliders, embellished with the signature Chanel chains. The most striking accessory were the pearl-adorned berets that many models sported, a homage to Che Guevara.
All the Chanel favorites ala Stella Tennant, Mariacarla Boscono, Mica Arganaraz, Lindsey Wixson, Soo Joo Park, Baptiste Giabiconi and Sébastien Jondeau flew down to Havana for the walk while Gisele Bündchen, Tilda Swinton and Vin Diesel graced the front row. The show ended with Karl Lagerfield walking hand-in-hand with seven-year-old Hudson Kroenig, Karl’s godson who walked with his father Brad Kroenig during the show. At the end of the Chanel extravagance, the models and the guests had a dance party right on the streets to the tunes of a local band. A fitting tribute to the Cuban spirit, indeed.
Picture source: http://assets.vogue.com
