The emblematic address at 31 rue Cambon was transposed to the Grand Palais for the Chanel Pre-Fall 2020 runway show that rendered the codes and the allure of the Fashion Maison sublime. Emotion vibrated in the air as the models descended the white-trimmed beige steps of the grand staircase and walk through the salon.

“There is a sort of simplicity in going back to Chanel’s ABC. We don’t need to do too much,” confides Virginie Viard, “I didn’t want the usual long-distance travelling of the Métiers d’art collections, I wanted to stay in Paris. So, we had to think of a new way of doing things.”

The camellias made by Lemarié became sculptures and completely covered little evening bomber jackets: one was quilted, with flowers made of duchess satin, with strass at their center, and worn with black sequinned trousers; the other was white with flowers in silk pongee, their centers embroidered like jewels.

While black and gold are very present, pink appeared as one of the key colors of the collection: soft pink, apricot, raspberry and even garnet on the tweed of both skirt and trousers suits, and also on a tweed jumpsuit.

Silhouettes were accessorized with an accumulation of costume jewelry: cuff bracelets, plastron necklaces in pearls and strass from which sautoir necklaces and other pendants all seemed to spark, chokers with white strass stars, while chain belts were embellished with rows of pearls, bows and camellias.

Watch backstage as the modern Chanel Pre-Fall 2020 collection of sleek and sophisticated creations come to life in the House of Chanel.