Chanel Haute Couture Paris: Behind the Scenes of the Show

Take a look behind the scenes at Karl Lagerfeld's latest haute couture collection for Chanel in Paris, with Kristen Stewart, Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore and Pharell Williams. We also see the Chanel atelier and the exquisite workmanship that creates this iconic fashion house's couture collections, writes Jeanne-Marie Cilento

THIS season, the Eiffel Tower is the monument chosen to symbolise Chanel's new Autumn Winter 2017/18 haute couture show. Karl Lagerfeld created a 38-metre high version of the tower inside the Grand Palais, with wooden garden chairs set out beneath like a Parisian park. The designer pays tribute to Paris with a scene for his latest haute couture show designed to be like a beautiful autumn day. "It’s a vision of a revived Parisian woman, it is all about cut, shapes, silhouettes. Here the line is very delineated and graphic, it’s very modern," he explains. His Parisiennes step out in hats, wearing booties or thigh boots buttoned up high. This season the tweed jacket comes as a long tunic, or is cropped and double breasted; its sleeves are cambered or dressed with fingerless gloves and bouquets of feathers.

"In this collection, there are feathers treated like fur," says the designer. The designs are worn with domed or wraparound skirts, tubular dresses or wide-cut jumpsuits. The silhouette is graphic, supported by tweeds, mohair, and grey, black and white wools, autumnal palettes in navy blue, burgundy and green. The collection has long, straight volumes that flare into A-lines or contrast with rounded on voluminous coats, peplum jackets and frock coats with cinched waists. At the end of the second runway show, Karl Lagerfeld was awarded the Grand Vermeil de la Ville de Paris medal by Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris. This medal, that represents the highest distinction in the City of Paris, recognises his creativity and his impact creating Parisian fashion that has influenced design around the world.