Chanel Starts a Russian Revolution
Chanel Starts a Russian Revolution - Chanel has started a Russian revolution with it's 'Paris-Moscow' collection which combines everything from cossack to Dr Zhivago inspirations.
The collection is part of a regular Métier d' Arts initiative which brings together the best handcrafts Paris has to offer; Lesage for embroidery, Lemarié for feathers and camellias, Massaro for shoes, Goossens and Guillet for costume jewellery, and Michel for hats, combined with the couturier and designer, Karl Lagerfeld's skill for turning a theme into an instant, status, must-have.
Chanel's ‘Matriochka Doll’ enamelled bracelet bag, doll necklaces and ‘Dr Zhivago-esque’ embroidered muffs are proving red-hot sellers. It’s a theme that Antonio Marras took inspiration from in his collection for Kenzo and which John Galliano also explored in his own label collection, although he moved more south-east, taking inspiration from Ukranian, rather than Russian Princesses.
The look is all about bold primary colours, naive embroideries, with tassels and braid, and de luxe embellishment, as in the hems on Galliano’s extravagant peasant-skirts.
And over-the-knee cossack boots are set to be the footwear of next season.
The high street has been quick to join the cause. Just in at Fenwick, New Bond Street, London, W1, is a new collection of embroidered tasselled and smocked cossack blouses, in cotton and silk, in Russian Constructivist colours of red, black and cream, priced from £159- £209.
Accessorise and Topshop already have versions of the Russian doll bag. Asos has a cute pair of matriochka earrings and jewellery websites such as Stolen Thunder and Dana Levy all feature matriochka and babushka-look necklaces, charms bracelets and rings.
