Dreaming of Chanel (Again)

If you know me well you will appreciate that I do not like parting

with hard-earned cash for just anything.

I do not subscribe to high-end labels because of some sort of status-anxiety either.

I love Chanel's couture and ready-to-wear clothing and accessories because of the artisan quality.

The seamstresses are well looked after and remunerated.
They have ateliers for all sorts of aspects of design and spend hundreds of hours making.

What is not to love about this separately stitched in place hand-dyed feather ruffles and those little flowers

(as above) that were once a layer of wet paint, dried, rolled extra-smooth and then cut out?

Hand-beading comes next.

So, you can imagine my surprise when my friend C,

who has been one of Flora's muses for many a year invited me to a Spring/Summer 2015 Show.

Just fourteen of us, and Chanel staff in a beautiful fine-dining restaurant.

With lovely models parading the 'looks' before dinner.
Crème brulee.

Cheese platter.

Pinch me.

Wrestling with that satin and wire inspired camellia was worth it.

What a reward.

Thank you, dear Coco.

Were you watching me? I did not think you would mind.

Here's C and me in situ at Chanel's lovely table.



 C's painted pearly CC bag.

 Colour was certainly key.

 Coco's signature orchids were part of the décor.

 At the risk of sounding like my mother; even the bathrooms were accessorised.

 I didn't wear Chanel.
I don't own anything.

I trotted out my Akira Isogawa full-length shroud-like Japan inspired gown.
Chanel would have approved.

Hand-beaded, and with a nod to Chanel accessory-wise with a cuff and brooch.

Just so you know, Akira's left Australian shores and is in Paris as we speak.

 I turned off the studio lights and went out and had the time of my life.

 The Spring/Summer 2015 Show in Paris for Fashion Week was all about women's rights and standing up for yourself.

There was all sorts of hand-painted protest signs including peace signs.

Not sure what the signs really stood for; if you know tell me, thanks.

Good on you, Karl. Vote Coco.

Just in time for International Women's Day this Sunday March 8.

 That's the strap of a satchel that looks like some vandal graffitied it with a nikko pen.

 The hand-painted then digital treated silk looks were stunning.

Jackets and capes are lined in tweed for a bit of juxtaposition.

 Chanel makes shopping easy because you just buy 'the numbered look'.

Yes, thanks. The whole ensemble.

 Sequins over digital printed silks.

Here's Look 74.

I am nothing if not predictable.

This ensemble was paraded and my heart skipped a beat.

Black and white.

There was also this natty little cuff with a map of Paris on it.

Go straight to Place Coco if you get lost, just off rue Cambon.

Coco aside.

What are you up to for International Women's Day?

Tell me.

I will celebrate next week with the workers with a lunch and we have

Queensland Senator Larissa Waters as our special guest speaker.

Bit excited.

I'll leave you with some of my Chanel inspired Flora corsages.