It’s as if we’ve chased the white rabbit straight into a surreal, fantastic world. One bite of cake, and suddenly we shrink: the pearl necklace we wore around our neck becomes a crossbody bag, the leather wallet transforms into a giant clutch, and pearls that were once earrings become chunky bracelets around our wrists. Chanel’s latest collection reinterprets the Maison’s codes and symbols, while playing with proportion: giant ribbons and bows, pearls, rhinestones, and layers, a lot of layers.
The collection feels almost dreamlike, lighthearted yet refined with a touch of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland magic. Alice in a blue velvet suit with an oversized jacket that feels like denim encounters the White Queen with a giant bow tied to the neck and a belt of pearls, and then passes to the Red Queen, appearing in a pink and red tweed ensemble with a long skirt.
The collection feels fun and youthful. A black tulle blouse and skirt worn over a trouser suit reshape the silhouette; is it a dress, a skirt, a suit? We don’t know, but it doesn’t matter, because it looks great. Accessories steal the spotlight: handbags that resemble oversized pearls, heels sculptured from a single pearl, maximalist rhinestones scattered everywhere like stardust, chunky bracelets, and ribbons and bows blooming across collars, blouses, and dresses. Chanel toys with illusion, reinterpreting its signature details in every possible size, proving they aren’t static, but endlessly open to reinvention.
