Chanel Collection arrives in the Cultural Heart of Melbourne

carolekelly
Apr 6, 2022
1 min read

Updated: Apr 21, 2022

Founded by French couturiere Gabrielle Chanel in 1910 this exhibition organised by the Palais Galliera, the Fashion Museum of Paris contains over one hundred outfits, jewellery, accessories, cosmetics and perfumes.

Gabrielle began as a milliner supplying French coastal resort towns before devoting her life to creating, perfecting and promoting an entirely new type of feminine elegance based on female reality at the time, eventually making a significant contribution to Twentieth century fashion.

She created ready-to-wear clothes, luxury goods and accessories. Her designs were based on comfort, streamlined simplicity and ease of movement thus countering the fashions of the previous century. Gabrielle always worked directly with her mannequin first, never from a sketch.

Illustrating the spirit of freedom and defiance characterised her language throughout the twentieth century. Her strength was her ability to harmonise function and form.

Her "little black dress", lace gowns, tweed suits (popular with both Jacquie Kennedy and Princess Grace Kelly) and beaded garments all feature in this collection