Chanel's spring 2021 couture show still managed to be a starry affair, even with the strict Covid-19 restrictions still in place.
Chanel, like all other fashion houses, has been forced to adhere to tight safety measures at catwalk presentations over the past 10 months as the pandemic rages on, including unveiling new collections to a limited, or no, audience.
On Tuesday, the French brand returned to the capital's Grand Palais, a location now synonymous with the luxury label, with a host of stars in tow. The audience was made up of Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard, Vanessa Paradis, and her daughter Lily-Rose Depp. They were joined by actresses Alma Jodorowsky and Joana Preiss and rocker Izïg Higelin.
Showcasing the brand's signature intricate and feminine designs, creative director Virginie Viard decided on a wedding theme for the presentation.
"People are craving for warmth, tenderness and cheer. A wedding is a bit like a family celebration," she said backstage, reports WWD. "There's not a lot of clothes, so it's not really a huge party. But even 30 guests is nice."
And in the show notes, Viard further explained: "I knew we couldn't organise a big show, that we would have to invent something else, so I came up with the idea of a small cortege that would come down the stairs of the Grand Palais and pass beneath arches of flowers. Like a family celebration, a wedding.
"I wanted to bring the models together for family photos, like those you can see in photo albums."