With The Beatles blasting and masses of tweed spilling out onto the Grand Palais runway, it was obvious from the very first look that Virginie Viard’s Chanel FW22 collection was firmly grounded in the swinging ’60s era. Those with an astute eye for beauty will have picked up on similar details, like a clumpy Twiggy-inspired lash or glossy bevelled bob.
The hair in particular was a mammoth undertaking, with stylist James Pecis revealing to Vogue that velcro rollers were used to achieve smooth, bouncy movement without obvious bends or curls. As one can imagine, velcro rollers are not exactly conducive to the chaos of backstage a major fashion event, but when it comes to Chanel, only the best will do — and the weightless, soft movement was it.
Another detail — and one that’s sure to become social media catnip — was the use of lacquered Chanel barrettes to sweep the hair into a deep side part. Whether long and plush or cut into a precise ’60s bob, it was the embodiment of rich (albeit retro) girl hair. And if you want to make one of the barrettes your own, we suggest you move quickly as such a chic accessory is sure to sell out.
And finally, the makeup. Unlike previous seasons where the liner was dense and lips were bold, this look has a certain lightness to it — soft skin, a smidge of peachy lip colour and the most subtle hint of rosy blush. The only weight was in the form of the eyelashes, that had been layered with a lot of mascara and pinched together to create a spidery, clumpy look. Bottom lashes were coated too, giving the eyes a mod-ish, doll-like finish.
It was a fresh and incredibly beautiful look from Chanel — and one that we’ll definitely be emulating for seasons to come.
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