The
early 1900 Edwardian culture was a world of high society ladies in corsets and
lace. It was a time when the ladies were always proper and put together, whether calling on one another for
afternoon tea or sharing secrets at the season’s ball. The rules of society
were begging to be broken, and who better than an orphan girl turned singer,
known on the night club circuit as Coco, to redefine high class chic.
Today,
we recognize black and white as a classically chic color combination. We label
the little black dress (LBD) as synonymous with effortless beauty. Pearls
are the perfect accessory for just about any look and sometimes a hat is just
the needed piece to finish an outfit. But it wasn’t always this way. It took the
foresight and designing genius of Coco Chanel to add these classic elements to
our fashion vocabulary.
"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud." -Chanel
After
her hat designs became all the rage for early 1900 starlets, Chanel was able to
put her needle and thread to work on chic designs that evolved over time into
the lifestyle brand we know it to be today.
More
than a century since the start of the brand, Karl Lagerfeld continues the
historic trajectory of Chanel with the reimagining of iconic details,
accessories and designs.
This fall’s collection included designs that paid
homage to the Edwardian roots of Chanel’s history.
"A girl should be two things, classy and fabulous." -Chanel
Cinched waists, full skirts, lace and ruffles are paired with more modern elements like sequins, biker boots and leather lacing for a 21st take on Edwardian elegance. With touches of old and new, the Chanel girl is sure to be both classy and fabulous.
Runway Photos: Vogue.com
