Chanel turns dreamy under Virginie Viard: New creative director fuses pastel shades and fluffy tulle & luxurious lace on haute couture outing in Paris

Chanel creative director Virginie Viard whipped extra airiness into the luxury label's spring/summer haute couture show, with thin veils and tufts of tulle that floated down a carpeted runway.

The audience sat in a ring under a gigantic button - stamped with the label's logo. Moving down from the ceiling, it announced the start of the show, tilting toward the photographers podium.


Leading the line-up, actor Margaret Qualley was all in white. She wore the label's signature tweed jacket embellished with shiny buttons, square pockets and a ruff collar, paired with shimmery white tights and a miniskirt. Black heeled sandals and a matching hair bow - worn by others throughout the show - finished the look.

The ensembles that followed were varied and distinct. Viard added a sheer, black train to a white bustier minidress, and trimmed a tweed jacket, with transparent, white balloon sleeves that puffed out just below the elbow.

While jackets were cut short, miniskirts were slung low, revealing white, shimmery skin-hugging material underneath.

The pastel colour palette and shiny, crystal embellishments brought a light touch to the collection, offset with occasional veils of black tulle - that even took the form of trousers.

The Paris spring/summer haute couture shows run through Jan. 25, featuring shows from the industry's biggest names, including Giorgio Armani Prive, Valentino and LVMH-owned Christian Dior and Fendi as well as designers Imane Ayissi, Ronald van der Kemp, Rahul Mishra and Stephane Rolland. (Reporting by Mimosa Spencer; editing by Barbara Lewis)