Deauville.
The seaside resort located in France’s Normandy region has been an upscale, fashionable destination since the 1800s, but it is also a place so near and dear to the House of Chanel. Virginie Viard returns to Deauville this season, finding inspiration under the sun and by the sea, as Gabrielle Chanel did during the brand’s early days.
As the show began and the first model hit the runway with a wide-brimmed hat atop her head, the collection’s overall vibe was indirectly apparent. The runway modeled a boardwalk, with images of the beachside emblazoned on screens throughout the venue.
A Love Letter to Deauville
The collection itself is strong, perfectly encapsulating Virginie Viard’s vision for Chanel. While the collection is inspired by Deauville, it’s really an ode to classic Chanel, with nods to both the 1920s and the 1970s—two decades integral to the brand’s history.
Silhouettes are evocative of the seaside off-season; think chunky sailor-inspired sweaters, sweeping outerwear, and knitwear sets, topped off with the collection’s signature wide-brimmed hat. The collection’s color palette is distinctly Chanel as well; neutrals give way to pastel hues of pinks, blues, yellows, and other sunset hues.
As for the bags, and there were many, this collection is incredibly consumer-friendly, featuring the Classic Chanel Flap in a rainbow of colors and textures. Given the collection’s inspirations, House classics like tweed and a bit of crystal adorn the bags, unsurprisingly.
Other lady-like shapes, like a wristlet pouch and hard-sided top handle, give way to a multi-pocket bag, which is the most relaxed of the silhouettes. View all of the bags from the runway below.
Chanel Pre-Owned 1992 large diamond quilted shoulder bag.