Chanel cruises into Versailles

The setting for Chanel’s Cruise 2013 show couldn’t have been more opulent: models processed around a recently restored fountain in the 17th century palace’s gardens. Watching them were 400 guests, including Vanessa Paradis, Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, Sam Taylor-Wood and Aaron Johnson.

The clothes came ruffled yet aggressive, with skirts that flared at the hip into broad, look-at-me panniers. Harlequin checks and gold-frogged denim (for men as well as women), and wide, Acne-style culottes brought swagger. White-soled brothel creepers toughened the frothier looks.

Reduced to its constituent parts, this was Chanel, all Chanel: the little double-breasted tweed jackets, the quilted bags, the structured black-and-white dresses were all present and covetable as ever. This was a France as far from austerity as the models’ pastel wigs were from real hair.

It was ‘serious frivolity,’ Lagerfeld said—and who wouldn’t like the sound of that?

Click through the gallery above to see a selection of looks from the Chanel Cruise 2013 show

See the Chanel AW12 collection here

Take a look at Chanel in our SS12 Accessories Report