You don’t have to be keenly attuned to the many fluctuations within the fashion sphere to know this: there is a certain je ne sais quoi to a Chanel runway show. Some would say that it is an ethereal, elusive reflection of the meticulous craft that goes behind each piece produced by the French luxury house, while others prefer the stance that Chanel’s storied history has allowed them to glean the necessary experience as to becoming a sartorial ringmaster of sorts.
Either way, there’s no denying that this is a brand well-aware of the importance of presentation—which explains the plethora of stunning Chanel runway sets over the years, ranging from the towering, grandiose structure within Palais Galliera, the City of Paris Fashion Museum to the vivid limestone walls that adorn the Carrières de Lumières.
Aesthetic appeal aside, it is evident that what distinguishes a Chanel runway set is the way it amalgamates seamlessly with the collection it encompasses. This is despite bolder instances where prominent visuals were projected onto the runway, as was the case with the Chanel spring 2022 ready-to-wear show—a photograph featuring Vivienne Rohner behind the camera lens utilised as the main backdrop. Rather than distract, however, it merely served to highlight a parade of minimalist bathing suits with black trimmings, as well as short dresses adorned in a muted geometrical prints.
And so, with its fall/winter 2022 presentation just around the corner, Vogue Singapore is commemorating the lead-up to the occasion by chronicling Chanel’s most exquisite runway sets through recent years. See them all, below—and start making your guesses as to what spectacular sets and finery the new season will bring.
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Chanel spring 2022 haute couture show
Inspired by constructivism, the Chanel spring/summer 2022 haute couture show took place at the Grand Palais Éphémère.
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Chanel fall 2021 haute couture show
The Chanel fall 2021 haute couture collection was unveiled amongst the Neo-Renaissance architecture of the Palais Galliera.
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Chanel fall 2021 haute couture show
The Chanel fall 2021 haute couture collection was unveiled amongst the Neo-Renaissance architecture of the Palais Galliera.
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Chanel resort 2022 show
The Chanel resort 2022 show was presented amongst the white limestone expanses of the Carrières de Lumières in the south of France.
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Chanel resort 2022 show
The Chanel resort 2022 show was presented amongst the white limestone expanses of the Carrières de Lumières in the south of France.
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Chanel resort 2022 show
The Chanel resort 2022 collection was shown once more in Dubai, hosted at the Creek Harbour district and accentuated by shadows and projections of olive tree branches.
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Chanel spring 2022 ready-to-wear show
The Chanel spring 2022 ready-to-wear show took place in a temporary space, set up at landmark location in Paris, Les Invalides. According to Viard, the set design was a homage to the ‘80s—more specifically, “the sound of flashbulbs going off at the shows,” as stated in her show notes.
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Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear show
The Grand Palais in Paris served as the backdrop to the Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection—but it was Hollywood that Lagerfeld took inspiration from, with the iconic sign in Santa Monica recreated using classic Chanel sensibilities.
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Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear show
The Grand Palais in Paris served as the backdrop to the Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection—but it was Hollywood that Lagerfeld took inspiration from, with the iconic sign in Santa Monica recreated using classic Chanel sensibilities.
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Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear show
The Grand Palais in Paris served as the backdrop to the Chanel spring 2021 ready-to-wear collection—but it was Hollywood that Lagerfeld took inspiration from, with the iconic sign in Santa Monica recreated using classic Chanel sensibilities.
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Chanel spring 2021 haute couture show
The Grand Palais was, once again, transformed to host the Chanel spring 2021 haute couture show. This time, Viard aimed to convey “a country wedding in the South of France,” complete with rustic arches, fairy lights and a horse.
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Chanel spring 2021 haute couture show
The Grand Palais was, once again, transformed to host the Chanel spring 2021 haute couture show. This time, Viard aimed to convey “a country wedding in the South of France,” complete with rustic arches, fairy lights and a horse.
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Chanel spring 2020 ready-to-wear show
The set was designed to mimic the gray, zinc-lined rooftops of the Rue Cambon.
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Chanel resort 2020 show
The Belle Epoque café—“Le Riviera”—that resembled Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon served as the main point of inspiration for the Chanel resort 2020 show.
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Chanel resort 2020 show
The Belle Epoque café—“Le Riviera”—that resembled Le Train Bleu at the Gare de Lyon served as the main point of inspiration for the Chanel resort 2020 show.
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Chanel spring 2019 ready-to-wear show
2019’s ready-to-wear showcase took place on a set designed to create the illusion of a tropical beach, complete with fake waves.
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Chanel fall 2019 ready-to-wear show
Karl Lagerfeld conceptualised a snow-bound haven for the Chanel fall 2019 ready-to-wear show, casting a somber yet serene mood.
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Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show
Elevated cliffs and coursing waterfall features were integrated at the Grand Palais for the Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show.
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Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show
Elevated cliffs and coursing waterfall features were integrated at the Grand Palais for the Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show.
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Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show
Elevated cliffs and coursing waterfall features were integrated at the Grand Palais for the Chanel spring 2018 ready-to-wear show.
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Chanel resort 2018 show
Chanel’s resort 2018 show was supposed to convey an “Elysian ideal of a Greek ruin” hosted in Paris.
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Chanel pre-fall 2017 show
The luxury house’s Métiers d’Art collection was shown at The Ritz in Paris, where Coco Chanel famously lived from 1937 throughout World War II.
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Chanel spring 2016 ready-to-wear show
Attendees were reminded of the wonders of travel with this hyper-realistic design designed to look like an airport—except elevated, of course. “It’s the idea of how it should look,” Lagerfeld stated in an interview to Vogue.
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Chanel spring 2016 ready-to-wear show
Attendees were reminded of the wonders of travel with this hyper-realistic design designed to look like an airport—except elevated, of course. “It’s the idea of how it should look,” Lagerfeld stated in an interview to Vogue.
