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Exactly one year ago, Karl Lagerfeld transported his entire Cruise runway extravaganza – along with a slew of big-name models and FROW guests – to all the way from Paris to Havana, Cuba.
This year however, he brought the glam location-of-choice his metaphorical front door. But there was nothing low-key about last night’s Paris-based event, held in the same grand location he showcases his regular fashion week collections. The upstairs Galerie Courbe of the Grand Palais was transformed into an ancient Greek ruin site – complete with sandy floor, crumbling columns and fresco-painted walls – to celebrate the time and place Lagerfeld regards the origin of culture, beauty and modernity.
Chanel Cruise 2017/18
Credit: all images supplied
“The criteria of beauty in ancient, then classical, Greece still hold true,” says the designer. “There have never been more beautiful representations of women. Or more beautiful columns. The entire Renaissance, in fact, was based on Antiquity.
“It is really about the youth of the world in all its power and unpredictability –
just like the unforgiving gods.”
While the elegant, Spartan-inspired clothes draped with layers of gold jewellery and gladiator-style crossed over ties snaking up each model’s calves were all spectacular, the shining star of the show was another jewel as close to Lagerfeld’s heart as his lauded designs: nine-year-old godson and long-time Chanel show fixture, Hudson Kroenig.
Hudson with his father Brad Koenig and Lagerfeld at last year’s Chanel Cruise show in Cuba
Credit: Getty Images
Look 33 of the show, modelled by its youngest (and only) male model
Lagerfeld and Kroenig together as usual during the finale
The cute youngster, son to model Brad Kroenig and Nicole Bollettieri (daughter of the Williams sisters’ and Andre Agassi’s famous tennis coach), has walked the Chanel runway holding his godfather’s hand during his final bow since the age of two, but this was the first time made an solo exit amongst the models. Cue audience erupting into a collective swoon.
10 of the standout looks from the show
See all 85 looks in the Chanel Cruise 2017/18 Runway show here.
