Karl Lagerfeld sure knows how to generate buzz. I can’t think of one show I rather have attended than his 2011 Resort show for Chanel, which was held in St Tropez. Ironically, when discussing his collection and location choice, Lagerfeld remarked that “there’s something magical about Saint-Tropez. It’s so easy, and it doesn’t require overcomplicated clothes. It’s not a bling-bling place, it’s a natural place.”
Those feelings were mirrored in his easy, breezy, flowing collection that had many models walking the runway barefoot or carrying their shoes – although that’s not how I would necessarily describe the wardrobe of those vacationing in St Tropez. The handful of times I’ve been there, I found it to be relatively high on the bling bling meter, and not particularly casual. St. Tropez is, after all,l a small area in the South of France where shopping options entail boutiques like Hermes, and dining takes place at Alain Ducasse restaurants.
With that in mind, I couldn’t help but think the collection didn’t particularly fit the venue – a fact that surprised me, given Lagerfeld’s close association with the exclusive resort destination. Some questionable looks aside (including a western-like cropped copper tie jacket and ruffled top and crocheted dresses), the main draw with this collection was the spectacle.
Style.com’s Nicole Phelps recounts that Natasha Poly, Anja Rubik, and the rest of the cast of Karl Lagerfeld’s 17 minute short film, Remember Now, arrived to the show via speedboat. Many of the models wore looks that appeared in Lagerfeld’s film. Phelps goes on to say that Magdalena Frackowiak walked the runway “doing a spot-on Brigitte Bardot shimmy,” and that for the finale “there was Georgia May Jagger, with her dad’s tune “Let’s Spend the Night Together” for an accompaniment.” It’s just too bad the close didn’t appear to live up to the show.
