A Parisienne Affair: CHANEL’s Fall Winter 2023/24 Collection

Harnessing the sparkling, vivacious je ne sais quoi of the Parisian woman was Virginie Viard’s challenge when conceiving the Fall-Winter 2023/24 Haute Couture collection for CHANEL.

A balancing play of contrasts painted a portrait of the quintessential Parisian style: feminine, daring, appealing, and brilliant. Following the show’s unveiling in July, Magnifissance received a selection of exclusive images from Paris documenting the making of this effervescent collection.

“Playing with opposites and contrasts, with nonchalance and elegance, is like standing on a line between strength and delicacy, which, at CHANEL, is what we call allure,” Viard says. The Parisienne’s sophisticated tastes in everything from literature to music to fashion informed a mesmerizing collection that spoke to femininity and adventure.

Featuring Vanessa Paradis as the face of Parisian style, the collection captured the city’s creative energy and history. Whimsical motifs recalled artistic themes, such as the fruit basket—a nod to the beloved wicker baskets of the 1970s.

There were also intricately embroidered flowers and wild berry embellished floaty dresses and blouses in lace, organza and chiffon, balanced in CHANEL style with subdued menswear-inspired details like long coats, vest tops, tweed, and pinstripes.

“If we’re in Paris, and this time we’re in Paris itself—on the quayside—the street and the colourful paving stones call for both sophistication and simplicity,” Viard says.

The Parisienne’s multidimensional character emerged through looks that ranged from dramatic multi-tiered skirts and bold florals to demure black tailored suits. The spotlight was on the city dweller’s complex inner world—uniquely her own, and unmistakably Parisian. As Viard put it, her approach was one of “handing down emotions, bringing the most unlikely elements together, doing things your own way, just dreaming.”