How to power dress the Chanel way for pre-fall 2019

When ancient Egypt meets modern New York

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It was like going back in time to ancient Egypt while in modern New York.

Held at the Temple of Dendur in the Metropolitan Museum of New York, Karl Lagerfeld transported everyone to an ancient time with Chanel’s pre-fall 2019 Métiers d’Art show. But the collection was far from old school.

Karl Lagerfeld has a penchant of being dramatic with his runway shows. Take his Spring/Summer 2019 collection for example where he recreated an entire beachfront as the runway inside Grand Palais in Paris. And this time, the head creative director of Chanel didn’t disappoint once again.

But no points for guessing the inspiration for this collection though: The choice location of the  Temple of Dendur is reflective of the inspiration taken from the ancient Egyptian culture. The temple pays homage to the union between mythological gods Isis and Osiris.   

The opulent use of rich golds, scarab beetles and plastron collars all point to the influences from the ancient culture, while graffitied designs and denim jackets aimed to recreate the energy of the Big Apple.

Scroll on to find out which pieces from the collection made our cut.

 

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Classic gold

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Gold was a favourite of the late Gabrielle Chanel, so what’s a more fitting celebration of the designer by adding gold trimmings and thread into the iconic Chanel tweed jacket?

 

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All that glitters is gold

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While living coral has been chosen by Pantone to be the colour of 2019, Karl Lagerfeld has boldly declared that Chanel’s power dressing colour for women is gold, as seen by this gold blazer dress and thigh-high boots ensemble.

 

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Suit up

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Soft suiting, which combines a structured blazer with a soft, flowy dress, continues to be a trend into 2019. But if you prefer a more shapely silhouette, go with a longline jacket that hugs the waist and fits the form.  

 

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Go retro, go 80s

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Sequins make a great party outfit while the gold tights add a touch of 80s flair.

 

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Concrete jungle

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Channeling the energy and the spirit from the streets of New York City, Karl Lagerfeld purposefully chose a streetwear staple, the denim jacket, to pair with a street art printed outfit.

 

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Cause he’s happy

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An ambassador of the French luxury label, American singer and rapper Pharrell Williams was roped in and walked the runway. Who said guys can’t wear gold?  

 

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Get your white dress on - the Egyptian way

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A white dress is a summer staple, and Chanel has made it extra luxurious with the use of gold sequin details.

 

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Accessories matter

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One quick way to amp up a look is add accessories. In this case, Chanel added a statement belt and plastron collar that not only cinches the waist but also adds width to the shoulders to create an hourglass shape.

 

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A modern take

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The sheath dress, or the kalasiris, was an integral part of ancient Egypt’s women’s fashion. With embellished details and a simple buckle belt, Chanel’s take on the kalasiris is utterly wearable for the modern woman. The jumper-like quality also makes the dress great for work.

 

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Trim and fit

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When it comes to colour-blocking and trimming details, it is often difficult to find a piece that will flatter the body. With this dress, Karl masterfully uses gold trim, prints and solid black to create a figure-hugging silhouette that emphasises the shoulders to create a glamazon-esque look.  

 

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