Welcome to Karl Lagerfeld’s Grand Palais dollhouse, where the world’s top models get to play designer dress up. For Chanel’s Spring 2016 Haute Couture show in Paris, the 82-year-old head designer and creative director outdid himself once again — despite the rave reviews he received for the Chanel airport terminal installed during the Spring 2016 Ready-to-Wear show last October.
Staged in a faux garden complete with a blue sky, the dollhouse featured garage-like doors that slid open to reveal more than 60 models, including Kendall Jenner and both Gigi and Bella Hadid. “Star Wars”-esque updos, Cleopatra makeup, fanny packs and structured sleeves dominated the wood-and-grass catwalk, which also showcased Chanel-alum Cara Delevingne sitting front row with her dog Leo.
1. Karl’s Dream House
The Chanel Spring 2016 Haute Couture show opened with a large wooden “dollhouse” set on a lush green and perfectly manicured lawn.
2. Doorways to Heaven
The building gradually transformed, all thanks to sliding doors, to expose 19 separate rooms on three different levels.
3. Here Comes the Bride
In the lowest center room of the dollhouse, Lagerfeld presented his bride, Argentinian model Mica Arganaraz, (a coveted role played by Kendall Jenner last year) and groom to the crowd.
4. One Man Show
In the company of over 60 women, just one male model walked for Chanel. Lagerfeld’s male muse Baptiste Giabiconi wore a structured tweed jacket (a Chanel classic) in taupe with caramel-colored patchwork trousers and heeled boots.
5. Black Swan
Kendall Jenner strutted down the catwalk in a black, beaded ballgown featuring an empire waist and matching round-toe black cork wedges with curved heels.
6. Textures on Fleek
Bella Hadid marched to the music in a romantic lace dress complete with sheer paneling, shoulder cutouts, peach floral appliqués and a bejeweled fanny pack.
7. Cape Town
The younger Hadid, Gigi, who walked in the Versace show the day before, took to the runway in a sparkling champagne-colored cape worn over a tiered midi dress in similar neutral tones.
8. Haute Cou-Tourists
Many of the looks in this Paris Fashion Week collection included fanny packs — the perfect size for iPhones and iPads — in various textures and colors, secured around the waist by chains and leather belts.
9. The Hair is Strong with This One
Each female model sported slicked-back hair in a low cylindrical updo, since coined by hair stylist Sam McKnight as the “Chanel croissant,” that was reminiscent of Princess Leia’s iconic hairstyle.
10. Liner Like an Egyptian
Though the haute couture show nodded toward the future, especially with the materials of its dresses and elaborate hair, Chanel’s eye makeup favored the past, picking an overdrawn Cleopatra-like double eyeliner in very black.
