Chanel’s Paris-Dallas Pre-Fall Collection

Karl Lagerfeld recentely unveiled the Chanel Métiers d’Art show where the décor was constructed to resemble a rodeo. Each year it seems that the spectacles become bigger and better, in recent years we have seen Chanel translate the style of locations such as Shanghai, India, Scotland, Singapore and now, Texas. The pre-fall collection was held at Dallas Fair Park, a National Historic Landmark renowned for its Art Deco architecture, in the heart of Dallas on December 10.

To kick off the evening, guests were ushered into the barn in a convoy of vintage classic American cars where they enjoyed the screening of Karl Lagerfeld’s new film, The Return detailing that fateful comeback show in Paris. The short features Rupert Everett as a persuasive journalist, Amanda Harlech as a convincing American and the multi-talented Sam McKnight as the major duomo a beleaguered Chanel wants to marry, the film’s star is Geraldine Chaplin, who inhabits Coco as an unexpectedly vulnerable and lonely figure.

Chanel rode into the Métiers d’Art show with cowgirls and a whole lot of Dallas glamour, it playfully steered its way between the kitsch and the beautiful seasoned line-dancer. Exploring romantic elements of the Wild West but with a contemporary twist, Chanel gave us fringed white leather trousers, shaggy haired chaps and quilted saddle bags along with ethereal-looking, Navaho-beaded tulle dresses. Flared and straight skirts hitting mid-calf, snappy cocktail dresses, and long, flowing gowns, were worn with loose suit jackets, capes and ponchos capturing an easy, effortless style. In a palette of white, beige, red, navy and black with touches of blush pink and prairie hues such as browns, greys and wheat tones, pieces were flawlessly embellished with key details like fringes, pleats, ruffles and the Texas star motif. Other references to the Deep South included Confederate-style gold military piping, black sheriff ties, swathes of tribal jewellery composed of pearls, as well as a section featuring blue denim.

Fronting the 2013/14 Métiers d’Art Paris‐Dallas campaign and chosen by Karl Lagerfeld will be American actress Kristen Stewart. The campaign will be shot by Karl Lagerfeld himself and is expected to be released in May 2014. She takes up the baton from previous encumbent, Tilda Swinton, star of last year’s Scottish-inspired collection.

This pre-fall collection has had our hearts pounding like a stampede of wild horses and we will definitely be adding a pair of the silm black knee boots with a low gold heel to our wish-list. For now we’ll be dreaming about the next location Lagerfeld is set to explore and transform.