If you’re a fashion freak this is old news, but I’m still very happy about it: All of the “fur” in Chanel’s fall collection is FAUX!!!
The animals love you Karl, and now I do too!
If you missed it, the show took place in Paris (bien sur) at the Grand Palais, and was presented on an iceberg – yes, an iceberg – carved from a 265-ton piece of (can you guess?)… ice. Ensuring that global warming doesn’t lose any ground, the carving of the ‘berg was done by 35 artists, brought in by Chanel… from Sweden. Apparently this is the same team who sculpts the famous Ice Hotel each year. (You know, the one that’s become ubiquitous because every damn city in the world now has one, or an ice bar- including Las Vegas…) The ice was also imported from Sweden, but we can excuse that because as anyone who’s ever ordered a soda in the City of Light knows, there’s apparently a HUGE shortage of ice in Paris.
Given the average BMI of the crowd at these events, I’m sure there were a lot of people – men and women – who were “at attention,” given that the room was kept at about 25-degrees F, and these things never start on time. The iceberg was concealed in a large wooden box, which lifted as the show began.
Mr. Laugerfeld’s “muse” (is that what we’re calling them these days?), Brad Kroenig, opened the show, in a simple getup that can best be described as ‘Wookie-mates-with-Ewok.’ Lovely.
There were a few other models with Brad, and later on, but he’s the standout. (And “muse” to Mr. Laugerfeld, as you know.) You may remember Brad from a few years back; he got some attention during the finale of the John Bartlett show when he appeared on the runway with another model, covered only by… a surfboard. Needless to say it didn’t cover much, and unfortunately it seemed to be pretty cold on the runway that day (if you get my drift), so if you missed it, you didn’t miss much. (Google his name and surfboard if you’re that interested… OK, here’s a fairly safe one.)
But back to the (faux) fur
Although Karl said that he wasn’t trying to be political (in fact, one of the reasons he gave for not using real fur was because he “doesn’t want to compete” with Fendi, who “does great fur”), it’s kind of hard not to when you’re Karl Lagerfeld and you’re running one of the most well-known and watched brands in the world.
Of course there were a few runway mishaps, which should come as no surprise given that their competition consisted of 20-pound models in stilettos and skinny guys who spend their days (and nights?) “inspiring” Karl. A few poor girls lost their shoes, which came loose in the slush from the melting ‘berg. I can’t imagine anything more fun than not eating for days then slipping in near-freezing water, losing a shoe in what’s likely your biggest gig to date, and having to traipse back down the runway and backstage knowing you left behind a $1,000 heel… and your pride. Good times!
But to end on a good note – and get back to the reason I wrote this post in the first place – I give props to Mr. L, and Chanel, for not anally electrocuting any cats, dogs, badgers, bears, beavers or other furry (or non-furry) animals this season. Let’s hope it’s a permanent decision, and one that catches on with other designers and houses. (Yes Louis Vuitton, I’m talking about you…)
If you’d like to see more of Lagerfeld’s “muse,” you can check out the book of photos taken and compiled by the designer over five years he spent with Kroenig: Metamorphoses of an American, A Cycle of Youth 2003–2008
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