For Spring 2023, Chanel explores the essence of allure, the freedom of a woman’s movement, and an expression of glamour through a modern lens. All of this clearly was inspired by cinema as the film “Last Year in Marienbad” (1961) by Alain Resnais was shown alongside clips of Kristen Stewart wearing pieces from the new collection as a teaser to the runway show.
The ready-to-wear was flowy and feminine, featuring symbolic nods to womanhood, like pearls, sequins, feathers, and bows. Silhouettes are light and airy, conveying a certain softness that echoes the vision of Virginie Viard. The clothes were wearable and commercial for the most part, and while the bags were flirty and fun, they were slightly less practical.
Minis and More
Most bags shown were mini (and micro), which is an interesting transition given the year’s big push of the 22 Bag, which is an oversized leather carryall, but I digress. While many of the below bags lack functionality, they sure are cute and bound to sell, as, like the ready-to-wear, there are a fair amount of highly commercialized flap bags.
While minis continue to reign, so does patent on the Chanel runway, and a handful of silhouettes were shown dressed in the shiny, eye-catching leather. Bags echoed the same odes to femininity as the clothes, with embellishments appearing throughout like crystals, pearls, sequins, and tiny heart details. The collection seemed less showy and dramatic overall, but in the post-Karl era of Chanel, it’s not that far from what we’ve seen in past seasons.
View bags from the runway below, images via Vogue Runway.
