Virginie Viard to succeed Karl Lagerfeld

The fashion maison of Chanel has announced that Karl Lagerfeld’s right hand Virginie Viard will succeed him as the creative head following the death of the Kaiser.

Regarded as Lagerfeld's closest collaborator for more than 30 years, Virginie was deemed the most important person for Lagerfeld and his atelier, as revealed by the German designer himself in the Netflix documentary 7 Days Out, which captures the drama behind the scenes seven days leading up to Chanel’s Spring 2018 haute couture show.  While Virginie has been the key person responsible for bringing Lagerfeld's sketches to life in the Chanel atelier, all eyes and ears will be on how she will bring her own personality to the French fashion house in the next couture show and beyond "so that the legacy of Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld can live on”,  according to Chanel CEO Alain Wertheier.

Rest in Peace, Karl Lagerfeld!

Karl Lagerfeld was one of the greatest creative giants in the world of fashion.  When he wasn't able to attend the Chanel Haute Couture SS2019 show last month, news abound that the German couturier’s health was not in good form. We are very sad to learn that our dearest Karl, the Kaiser of the fashion world, described as fashion’s first global superstar designer, and Chanel's creative director for three decades,  has died today.  He was 85.

So grateful I had the opportunity to attend a couple of his Chanel shows in Paris and even visited Coco Chanel's Rue Cambon apartment.  I've always admire his forward thinking in leading the fashion world with elaborate staging of his catwalk shows .  I had also heard him talk in conferences.  He was a quick thinking, inspirational speaker, and is known for his outspoken controversial comments.  But if you were  King Karl, you would speak your mind too. 
Karl Lagerfeld, may you rest in peace.

Karl Lagerfeld's fashion and jewellery designs along with portraits of celebrities photographed by the designer himself were on display in the Mademoiselle Privé exhibition - a tribute to Coco Chanel - held at the Saatchi Gallery in London in 2015.
Photo by Lucia Carpio.

KARL LAGERFELD and ModelCo celebrate the global launch of their limited-edition colour cosmetics collection

(Photo by Julien M. Hekimian/Getty Images for ModelCo)

It was a romantically rosy affair inside the Hotel D’Evreux in Paris at the famous Place Vendôme on May 15th, where KARL LAGERFELD and ModelCo celebrated the global launch of their limited-edition colour cosmetics collection.

Click here for the Details.

Dressing up for a special occasion? opt for the Up-do by michaeljohn

Polished hair and Up-dos are all the craze at michaeljohn

Chanel Couture Hair:   Michaeljohn sees 25% increase in requests for up-dos since Sam McKnight's brilliant croissant bun

Along with my peers in France these few days for the Première Vision Paris exhibitions (a series of must-see events for all in the fashion, textile, design and related industries), croissants are undoubtedly on my breakfast menu.

Last month on Janurary 26^th, when Karl Lagerfeld sent his models down the catwalk for Haute Couture, their hair, executed by session stylist Sam McKnight, was the star attraction.

Dubbed "the croissant", these tightly and precisely constructed architectonic 1940s giant rolls at the back of the head, heralded in a new era of very chic, very polished, sculptural hair.

McKnight’s hair statement resonated far beyond the grounds of the Grand Palais where the collection was shown. 

"This season's Chanel hair was inspired by beautiful illustrations by Karl and a Picasso sculpture. The final look was a modern interpretation of sculptural forms and classic silhouettes which reflected the collection.” And here at michaeljohn it’s signalled the start of a bold new era of dressed hair, up-dos, bridal and special occasion styling. Since then there’s been a 25% increase in demand for up-dos in the salon and the stylists are all busy perfecting their own couture-inspired versions.  “Fashion has become much more sleek and elegant than it was before,” says Max Coles, michaeljohn’s Creative Director. “Very shiny hair has come back, very well done and very neat. Especially that last Chanel show everything was so sleek, so neat and so polished: it was beautiful. We try to recreate this kind of idea.”

The salon team offer all kinds of permutations of the Chanel Couture look as well as up-dos of all varieties, buns, and French plaits.  Coles confirm that the team are happy to teach clients how to execute these styles at home themselves.

“We can do pretty much everything.  If you remember going back to the past, Breakfast at Tiffany’s this kind of style, all the women were very dressed up and the hair as well, we’re going back to this, its very feminine and women feel great about it because they really stand out, instead of messy and casual and greasy looking.”

Bridal hair and special occasions – from cocktail parties to full on grand balls - offer a unique opportunity for women to go to the hairdresser beforehand and have a bespoke session tailoring their hair to make the perfect entrance. “We’re looking at trends going into evening and also wedding hair,” continues Jay Rapata Senior Artistic Director in the salon. “There’s been so much half up half down since the Royal Wedding so we are now seeing something a bit more dressed and that’s where the salon comes in.”

Colour is also key to the Chanel Couture look. “It was all the natural shades, particularly the brunettes,” says Debbie Bhowmik, Lead Signature Colourist at michaeljohn. “It’s a big departure from the ombre, the dip dye for a colourist its beautiful shiny hair and it kind of enhances what a client’s got.” The rise of the brunette, from the Duchess of Cambridge to Chanel Couture’s model of the moment Kendall Jenner is a phenomenon that Bhowmik is enthusiastic about. 

All photos supplied by michaeljohn.co.uk

Happiness is ... the Mademoiselle Privé exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London

Despite the long queues, the Mademoiselle Privé exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London is where one can find happiness because it allows you to experience stimulants to your five senses.  

From the colours and the sound of birdsong at the specially-created garden prior to the entry of the building to the audio commentary provided by Mademoiselle Chanel, the delightful installations and sculptures and the sweet fragrant of the sensory lab, to the feel of textures provided by floor to ceiling draping curtains and the sight of alluring couture designs and beautiful jewels.....

Be sure to download the Mademoiselle Privé app before entering the exhibition, which enhances the experience with interactive content that is revealed throughout the visit.

This is the final week and the exhibition finishes on 1st November.  

If you haven't been yet, click HERE for the link to the website.

All photos by Lucia Carpio for My Fashion Connect.