On the Podcast: Bows at Chanel—And Dries’s Final Bow

Chanel, which they all attended this morning, was a sophisticated affair at the Palais Garnier—an utter “bow-ment,” as pun queen Chloe exclaimed. The magic of fashion week was palpable in the opera house, where the clothes were at once elegant, feminine, and wearable, the models sun-kissed and glowing. With the recent announcement of the departure of Chanel creative director Virginie Viard, the fashion world is still aflutter with speculations about what’s next for the maison—but for now, Chanel is very much as it’s been. Runway shows are always a multisensory experience, and Nicole enjoyed the musical selections at the show enough to Shazam them. (Check out “Sympathy” by Rare Bird.)

Nicole and Chioma also gush over one of the more emotional moments of the weekend (and not just because of their jetlag): the final Dries Van Noten show. Held outside of Paris, at a factory he showed in back in 2005, it began with a cocktail hour, which Dries and his partner attended. Then, at around 10 p.m., the curtains opened up to a silver leaf-strewn runway, another reference to a past show. Nicole’s biggest takeaway from the show was that while it was a goodbye (at least for now), the collection was not overly nostalgic, instead embracing the inventive and optimistic spirit that’s always been a Dries signature. For a more in-depth review of the show, an examination of Dries’s career, and a lovely conversation between Nicole and Luke Leitch, see here.

The shows continue tonight with Armani Privé, and tomorrow with Demna’s Balenciaga showing. And maybe Chioma will find time to squeeze in some vintage shopping? Bonne chance!