Chanel Métiers d'art 2015 seen by an insider

Chanel Métiers d’art 2015 seen by an insider

This article has been written by four hands and two eyes, those of an insider, a Chanel’s guest for Metiers d’Art collection that took place the 1st of December in the Cinecittà studios in Rome.

I had the issue to transfer onto paper Roberta’s experience who immersed herself into Chanel’s world for the night signed #ParisinRome. Roberta Altavilla is Roman by birth, lovely fashionista, lawyer, party girl, a friend of mine and a companion of fashionable adventures not only in the Italian Capital. She has been my live reporter from Chanel’s world Chanel and has never stopped messaging me live on what has been furthur more a unique experience, than the presentation of a collection that puts together the excellence of Chanel‘s savoir – faire, showing the world the identity of the two C, synonymous with good taste, style and timeless class.

Chanel Métiers d’art 2015 fashion show, a few hours after the show

When Roberta called me yesterday morning, the first thing she said to me was: “Do you know those scenes that we only see in Hollywood movies? Well, it was a lot more than that and it was not a movie, but a reality.” The reality created by Mr. Lagerfeld for his guests and for the History of Fashion.

Once entered intoCinecittà’s gates, Roberta climbed on one of those cars you see on golf course and has been transported to another dimension, through an avenue lit by torches that ends on the reconstruction of Ancient Rome. That was only the prelude of the Colossal totally French mannered, shot by Karl during a December night in Rome.

In a sort of amphitheater the short film “Once and Forever” has neen shown, under the eyes of the guests, pampered and wrapped in gray blankets. The deus ex machina, Karl was there, together with the two protagonists Madame Geraldine Chaplin and Kristen Stewart who arrived at Cinecitta waited by her fans. The short film was a tribute to the fabulous world of Coco that from the ’20’s has never stopped being the symbol and icon of style.

This is not a simple tale of Chanel Métiers d’art 2015

After the first hour spent in the studios, it was almost impossible to remember when and how she got there, but the show was just at the beginning and it would continue right after in the Teatro 5 – the area of 300 m where Fellini filmed many times – transformed for one night into theVille Lumiere. There was everything. The boulangerie, the metro, the brasseries, le cafes, les restaurants. Inside the pastry chefs, bakers, cooks were all at work, as well as the fish desk illuminated, the delicatessen, bakeries and all of the activities of one of the most famous cities in the world that trembled in this 360° setting where reality and fiction seemed to merge and blend.

When the fashion show started the excellence of craftsmanship and the Chanel’s art manufacturing comes in. The collection of the Metiers d’Art is the sublimation of the industry of luxury. It’s Haute Couture working for Pret a porter. In the collection there is wool, silk, capes, coats and delicious bouquet clothes. Snow boots, transparencies, bouclé skirts, pants and lace socks. There is marble printed on feathers and intricacy work. Although the collection is impeccable, surprising and captivating, Roberta and I could not talk about clothes. Not this time.

She goes straight to the next chapter, satisfying my desire to know everything and even though our conversation took place on the phone, eating breakfast before fleeing towards the commitments of the day, it looked like a dialogue between girl friends who listen spellbound the dream of the night before of one of the two.

What happened next it was preceded by a perfume. Not the smell of the famous Chanel No. 5, but the flavors of food just prepared. It was Chanel’s dinner arranged for guests. All of the food boutiques were now open to the public welcomed by strictly French shopkeepers . The French and Italian excellence concentrated in one place, it was #ParisinRome.
And so drinking a cocktail, a macaroon, a selection of cheeses and meats, oysters, raw shrimp and fish, they dimmed the lights and the party started until late at night.

This is what fashion can do. Changing the perception of reality. Transforming reality into dream and taking you there where perhaps you’ve never dreamed of going and where you would not want to return.

Of course this is not the normality, even for Chanel, but it was a way to celebrate a period, an alliance, a need for good that will remain forever in the history started by Coco in the ’20s and carried on, year after year, by the Karl Lagerfeld’s genius. The man with large and dark sunglasses, white hair and gentle manner. “the Director”, who spent the evening in the central gazebo with Princess Carolin’ and her daughter, Madame Chaplin, Kristen Stewart and his very small team.

And Roberta, now is back to the reality of work, laws and commitments, this adventure I am sure will not remain just a dream, but the beginning of something bigger and the little certainty that if you have a strong desire in life, you will always find a way to make it happen.