Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture collection is characterized by oval sleeves and long pencil skirts, short tweed jackets and flared dresses, fitted tops and light capes, and presents a range of different designs with inverted volumes. 

The Starting Point for This Collection Was the Silhouette. – Karl Lagerfeld

VARIATIONS ON BEIGE

“Gabrielle Chanel was the Queen of beige”, explains Karl Lagerfeld. Ranging from off-white to ochre, very light brown and shades of raw wool, linen and cotton, beige is one of the most versatile neutral tones. It offers a perfect balance between the warmth of brown and the freshness of white.

With hints of ecru, ivory, sand, dove, putty, taupe and mocha, the Artistic director presents the many faces of one of Gabrielle Chanel’s favorite shades, featuring floaty dresses, blouses and muslin fabrics, floral embroidery, jackets and skirts.

“I go back to beige because it’s natural”, she used to say. A real fascination for nature was reflected in her interiors where beige was the chosen color for furniture and carpets, which reminded her of “earth floors”. She used it in her collections, applying it to her jersey pyjamas, her tweed suits and her shoes.

She also combined it with the elegance of black and white to create a stylish statement women adopted unanimously and which Karl Lagerfeld went on to enrich with his own talent.

WOODEN EMBROIDERIES

Karl Lagerfeld has used wood in the form of shavings, fragments, sequins and pearls to embellish the Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture collection.

We had to make everything because those – there are no sequins in wood and pieces like this and straw and things… We had to make everything. Normally, they make the embroidery with existing material. We had to create the material because those things don’t exist.

BEES

Bees characterize the Spring/Summer 2016 collection, whether they be embroidered onto tulle or mounted as costume jewellery.

As well as symbolizing the renewal and perpetual rebirth of nature and presaging happiness, bees also embody a symbolic value associated with their hard-working nature.

HAUTE COUTURE POUCH

Karl Lagerfeld’s Spring/Summer 2016 collection features belts and mobile phone pouches which are as sophisticated as the outfits that they accompany.

“This is our new bag (…), identical to those used by 15th century ladies of the manor to carry their keys; any other accessory would be too much”, he quips.

CHANEL SPRING/SUMMER 2016 HAUTE COUTURE SHOW

THE STORY OF THE CHANEL SPRING/SUMMER 2016 HAUTE COUTURE SHOW

View the Story of the Chanel Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture Collection.

Soundtrack:
Artist: Alain Chamfort
Title: Manureva (Ivan Smagghe Remix)
(Serge Gainsbourg/Alain Chamfort/Jean-Noël Chaléat)
Label: Courtesy of Universal Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music France, Melody Nelson Publishing, Rock’n’Rose Music, Courtesy of P.I.A.S

Artist: John Adams
Title: The Chairman Dances (Foxtrot for Orchestra)
Interpreted by The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart
Label: (c) Associated Music Publishers Inc / Courtesy of Premiere Music Group.
(p) 1987 Nonesuch Records. Courtesy of Warner Music France, A Warner Music Group Company

MAKING OF THE CHANEL SPRING/SUMMER HAUTE COUTURE COLLECTION

View the Making of the Chanel Spring/Summer 2016 Haute Couture show.

Soundtrack:
Title: Dreams come true
Artist: Timothy Jason Bidwell
Label: Cezame Music Agency

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All images courtesy of Chanel.
For more information please visit: chanel.com