Every Look From Chanel's Métiers d'Art 2024 Show in Manchester
Chanel's Métiers d'Art collection, guided by Virginie Viard's innovative vision, sets the spotlight on Thomas Street in northern Manchester. Explore the fusion of tweed with vibrant pop elements, paying homage to the city's music culture.
Thomas Street, situated in the heart of northern Manchester, holds a profound connection to the realm of underground music, from iconic bands like the Sex Pistols and the Smiths to influential figures such as Morrisey, the Chemical Brothers, Oasis, and New Order. Chanel has chosen this epicentre of post-punk and Brit pop to unveil the new Métiers d'Art collection crafted by Virginie Viard. Amidst a star-studded front row including Tilda Swinton, Charlotte Casiraghi, Kirsten McMenany, Kirsten Stewart, Sofia Coppola, Hugh Grant, Rebecca Murder, Lucy Boyton, and Laura Bailey, Viard presents a collection where tweed, a quintessential Chanel element, takes centre stage. "Tweed is the central element of this collection", explained Virginie Viard. "In creating this season dedicated to highlighting our Métiers d'art I thought a lot about Mademoiselle Gabrielle Chanel but I didn't want to recreate Coco's look when she dressed in items from the Duke of Westminster's wardrobe. I imagined Coco giving colour to the tweed. I wanted to add a certain pop effervescence to this season."
The result is a distinctly Chanel wardrobe influenced by the diverse musical culture of the underground scene. "Manchester, to me, epitomises a city of music and creativity—a place that fosters imagination and invention," Viard shared. Thus, the maison's world converges with the musical realm, integrating sporting nods inspired by football culture and pastoral elements drawn from the British moors. This celebration of the enduring connection between the iconic double C and England is commemorated through two accompanying aesthetic endeavours: a Sofia Coppola-directed video collage and a bespoke Manchester-centric logo-seal by artist Peter Saville. However, the main spotlight remains on the collection, set to hit stores worldwide in June 2024. The emphasis lies on a vibrant colour palette spanning from salmon pink to lemon green, apple to mustard yellow, sky blue to intense red, all infused with a rock-infused underground attitude and a hint of '60s retro, evoking a rebellious and non-conformist elegance. This rebellious yet refined essence is embodied by supermodels Karen Elson and Edie Campbell, who graced the stage with their presence.
