The last
time we were talking about Fashion Weeks
was just a few short weeks ago in March, when Louis Vuitton closed in Paris. France was already struggling and
the streets of Paris were becoming empty. Soon after that, fashion
extravaganzas, as we knew and loved them, would have to be shelved.
London, as
always, is reacting with invention and being proactive. Team Fake Bake have worked backstage at LFW and it’s electric. Creative, colourful and fearless, you don’t
see a lot of beige. This season, which is normally all about Men’s Fashion before the women’s
collections return in September, London has created an online, interactive
fashion event which is gender-neutral
and all-inclusive. LFW draws
much attention when brands like Burberry
and Victoria Beckham take centre-stage, but this new event is more
democratic and is creating a really equal space for new names, retailers, educators,
designers and creatives.
Back to
Paris. Early summer is usually about the Cruise
collections. Nope, not outfits to wear on a reality show on Channel 5, but
ready-to-wear to fill in your wardrobe between seasons. Now, that’s out of
reach for most of us, but the inspiration isn’t. Chanel has already undergone such change. After the sad loss of Karl Lagerfeld, Virginie Viard took
over without a huge fanfare. She simply took the know-how of Coco, the showmanship of Karl, and added her own take on what contemporary
women really want to wear. The result is probably less show-y than we are used
to after three decades of Lagerfeld,
but they are the kind of looks that feel luxurious, but could walk off a
catwalk and into real life.
Only this
year there is no catwalk. Viard, however,
wanted to keep Chanel at the
forefront of fashion. The company had already been involved in making
protective garments for healthcare workers, and had to scale right back on how
they would produce and design this Cruise
collection. The team also decided to make use of materials they already had
in stock, and so the collection is less streamlined than usual, but is more
like looking into the wardrobe of the chicest woman on the planet.
Photographed
by Karim Saldi, the collection is
about easy-to-wear pieces that you could put in your hand luggage, and jet off
to Ibiza with. If you could actually get on a plane right now. There are no
complicated evening dresses or really formal looks. Even the suits are casual,
90’s inspired and worn with bikini tops. We literally loved every look, and we
thought we’d mention a few. Just putting them out there in the Universe.
The ultimate pink suit,
with signature camellia print bra top
Ultimate rock chic
casual
Windowpane check
co-ords with logo belt: perfection
70’s riviera inspo
Easy evening in black
chiffon
The monochrome
super-bag and Mary Janes
Hardware goes soft
The perfect necklace
Navy knits for cooler
nights
Signature quilts and
chains
Oh, and how
we love the beauty and hair…..
Simple hair, statement
brows and an all-over glow
Rock ‘n’ roll riviera
hair
Cornrows and
contouring: contemporary and gorgeous
And for a
collection called the Mediterranean
Jaunt, by Chanel, there has to be a bronzed
glow in there somewhere. We love that each model has a look to suit their
own skin tone: the days of every-model-the-same are gone, people.
If you want
a Chanel-style tan, then this look
is one option we adore. First of all, the outfit helps. Mica Arganaraz looks spectacular as the sun goes down and that
beautiful skin finish is something we can achieve without a Cruise budget.
For this
look, we’d go for our Fake Bake
Flawless, which our Global Creative Consultant adores for a seamless glow.
Apply to freshly prepped skin, and let this fine mist get to work. If you
prepare a more intense finish, you can also opt for our Fake Bake Flawless Darker, which has the same consistency but has a
more enhanced tanning result. Our fave Mhiari
Ferguson knows how to work it.
As this Blog
gets published, we are still saying our prayers that the beauty industry can
open all of its doors again soon. It could be many months, though, before we
see all of the Fashion Weeks back on
track. But the fashion industry has really upped its game this year. As well as
contributing factory space and production to key workers during the current
crisis, companies like Chanel are
committed to using more sustainable fabrics and resources. This much we do
know: any of these pieces aren’t throwaway items. They are heirlooms to wear
and then pass down.
Perhaps
there is a lesson here for us all. OK, so a new 2.55 is a bit off the scale when it comes to our own budgets,
but maybe it’s time to start thinking quality over quantity when it comes to
adding to our wardrobes.
So this is
our question of the day: if we don’t go on holiday or have any events this
summer, can we justify a pair of Chanel
Mary Janes?
We’ve
decided to live a little. We’re not sure our local beer garden is ready for
them, and we are a bit worried that the grass might stain the leather.
All we need
then is a face mask with signature interlocking C’s.
It’s a new
and odd accessory combination but summer 2020 is going to be one we never
forget. Bring on the beginning of lockdown, the ability to hug again and a
reason to get out of our summer jarmies. Standing by an old bench outside your
local is the new going out. Get overdressed, and blame us if you like.
Now, who’s
ordered the scampi?
Fake Bake Flawless and
Flawless Darker are now available at www.fakebake.co.uk
All show images
courtesy of @chanelofficial
Follow James on Insta
@jamesharknettofficial
Follow Mhiari on Insta
@mazferguson
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