Chanel's Most Iconic Runway Show Settings

The Grand Palais Transforms for Chanel

Chanel, Fashion Show, Eiffel Tower, Paris, France, Paris Fashion Week, Grand Palais, Models, Fashion Show, Venue

The French fashion House of Chanel was founded in 1909 by Gabriella "Coco" Chanel and has become one of the most iconic brands in the world. It is the golden ticket show to attend during Paris fashion week each season and a dream for so many bloggers and influencers around the world.

When Karl Lagerfeld became the creative director of the brand, he paid homage to the namesake designer by embracing Chanel's legendary cuts, fabrics, and vision. He brought a modern elegance to their traditional suits, dresses, and the couture collection and revolutionized the typical Chanel fashion show. They transformed from a simple catwalk for editors and buyers to view the latest collection to a breathtaking spectacle with a star-studded audience, elaborate decorations, and a curated stage inspired by the collection.

The Grand Palais in Paris, where Chanel typically holds its seasonal shows, has metamorphosed into dozens of settings for the models to display the season's latest vetements. The Beaux-Arts Exhibition space in the Palais has camouflaged into the streets of Paris, a bustling casino, a snow-covered, winter wonderland, and even a beach with real waves. Viewing the matching Chanel tweed suits and jersey blazers in a physical context (not just a show venue) breathes life into the clothes, helping editors envision how they'll look spread over the cover of next year's magazine editorial.

These are some of my favorite mise en scenes from Karl Lagerfeld's era of Chanel, ending with the final show he designed in 2019.