Lagerfeld, who did not want a funeral, made this show his snow-filled goodbye, with a beautiful runway recreating a Swiss Alps ski village. There were, of course, Chanel logo skis and smoking chimneys and a winter wonderland at the Grand Palais. A card left on each guest’s seat showed an illustration of Lagerfeld with the label’s founder Coco Chanel, words reading “The beat goes on…” above their heads.
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Before the show began, a minute of silence was held, followed by a recording of Lagerfeld describing the set design as “like walking in a painting.” Delevingne opened the show in an exaggerated houndstooth print coat with a deep-V shirt and trousers. There were also the Chanel signatures found in fanny packs with double-C logos, tweeds, and, in a nod to the late designer, models all wore black ribbons in their hair.
Penelope Cruz, in her runway debut, led Chanel’s muses down the runway in white ruffles, ankle boots, and a snowball skirt. A face of Chanel since last year, Cruz walked alongside models including Adut Akech and Luna Bijl while carrying a single white rose.
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“I felt like laughing and crying at the same time, to see all these people who loved him so much celebrating him together,” Cruz told WWD after the show. “But seeing all this, also it’s the beginning of something else, all that he’s created over all these years.”
It was a classic Lagerfeld collection—feminine, architectural, the eternally chic rich mom. In a sweet moment, Delevingne comforted a crying model walking alongside her on the runway. Watching from the front row were Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Janelle Monae, Monica Bellucci (with her hot French sculptor boyfriend), Kristen Stewart, and other longtime friends of the designer.
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And like the Fendi show, David Bowie’s “Heroes” played as the models made their final walk, with Delevingne expressing a small cheer at the end of the runway—seems like something Karl would have liked.