Chanel Spring Summer 2016 Couture Fashion Show Review

With soothing colors and lightweight materials, the Chanel Spring Summer 2016 Haute Couture collection had a Zen feel to it, as did the wooden house that formed the backdrop of the runway. Read our review and discover the collection!

Review | Collection

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A wooden dollhouse stood in the middle of a garden, against a backdrop of calm trees and a cloudless blue sky. Wood steps lay on the grass, coming out of the house’s porch and over a narrow pool of water, forming a pathway you’d think belonged to a Zen garden! One by one, models walked out, in outfits as tranquil as the backdrop – poised and chic.

The silhouettes included midi and knee-length pencil skirts worn over short tweed jackets with rounded collars and oval sleeves. Plus some midi dresses, flared pants and culottes. The second half of the show also brought evening dresses, gowns and capes. The color palette was the first thing you’d notice, all sorts of beige – as the description says “ecru, ivory, sand, dove, putty, taupe and mocha”.

Inspired by the house itself, as Karl Lagerfeld noted in the narrative of the collection, “Gabrielle Chanel was the Queen of beige”.




For the nature-inspired Chanel Spring Summer 2016 couture collection, the beauty really is in the details. Tiny wood pieces and shavings were used with leather, beads and rhinestones for embellishments. The use of wood is both sublimely original and engaging. Not necessarily glam, but serene. Organza, tweed and chiffon were used in fabrics. While smartphone sized fanny packs adorned the waists, two-tone cork platform heels adorned the feet. Although we don’t prefer cork platforms, the smartphone pouch is one accessory we would want to become a wardrobe staple this year!




Especially after the recent Chanel 2016 Pre-Fall fashion show ‘Paris in Rome’, the nature inspiration here is very different, unexpected and innovative. The nature inspiration also showed in the creative jewelry and embellishments. Bees were in abundance – both wooden and metallic – adorned with rhinestones and pearls – embellishing sleeves, making brooches, single earrings and on fanny packs.

Evening gowns were embellished and floor-touching, sometimes with sheer capes, or sometimes with crop boleros. And fringes. A sequin crop maxi had little flowers, leaves, bees and butterflies embroidered on it. The colors also introduced darker hues, to mocha and black, and a hint of blue. My most favorite was the beige and ivory sequin outfit shown above with cape. Others include the black gown worn by Kendall Jenner and a black bolero with satin silk pencil skirt.

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Chanel by Karl Lagerfeld



The finale outfit was a bridal dress- also one of my favorites. It was strapless and well above the ankle, with chiffon floral applique, leather and wood fragments and a floor-grazing cape.

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Chanel Spring Summer 2016 Collection: Gallery

Also check out:

Making of Chanel Spring 2016 Couture & Fashion Show Details

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Photo Credits: Chanel

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