Camellias bloom in a chic Monochromatic runway - Chanel 2023 Paris Fashion week

Camellias are the first optimistic sign of spring , in Paris despite this week’s frigid weather. In 1923,Coco Chanel first pinned one of the blooms on a dress. Designer Virginie Viard picked up that moment as the center-piece of her fall ready-to-wear show... from the runway set to adding the bloom as part of the print, embellishment , accessories and handbags.

Viard had organized a giant symbolic white camellia as a set, and had a real one placed on every guest’s seat, but she wasn’t pressing the anniversary angle. “The camellia is more than a theme, it’s an eternal code of the house,” she said in her press release. “I find it reassuring and familiar, I like its softness and its strength.”

Celebrities at the show included Jennie, H.E.R., Sofia Richie, Zoe Saldaña, FKA Twigs, Dianna Agron and Penélope Cruz at Chanel's RTW fall /wainter 2023 show ; on the last day of Paris Fashion week.

Sofia Richie arrived at Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week show on Tuesday, in plaid, matching with her sister Nicole Richie. To support the brand in unveiling its fall 2023 runway show, Sofia Richie wore a blue plaid check dress with Chanel interlocking C logo buttons, a Chanel interlocking C logo belt, mesh heels with a black cap toe and a bow with interlocking Chanel Cs and a chain strap quilted handbag.

Chanel's runway opened with variations on black, white and gray. White camellias ran up a black trellis on a long, slim, tweed coat; they clustered as a corsage on slick black patent oversized blouson. Monochromatic dresses bloomed with the Camellia inspired print amidst the classic Chanel logo.

MONOCHROME COLOR PALETTES RULE:

POLKA DOT PLAY :

While staying within the guardrails of Chanel’s femininity and decorativeness, Viard added her own dash of quirkiness to the mix. Some of the suits came paired with tweed bermudas, bloomers or leather shorts, teamed up with white floral lace tights and knee boots.

TWEEDS TALE :

The finale of the runway were a collection of evening wear line ; with camellia-print silk dresses, layered over sweaters and longjohns. It was a depiction of what Parisian style might mean as worn by women on the street.

HANDBAGS :

Hangbags looked chic and quirky in pale pink hue inspired by the Camellia bloom.