The location: The Carrières de Lumières (Quarries of Light) in Les Baux
The theme: “In 1960 Jean Cocteau—the sui generis artist, poet, and filmmaker who cast a long shadow across the worlds of culture and style in 20th century France—used these quarries as a setting for his hauntingly beautiful movie The Testament of Orpheus,” wrote Hamish Bowles. “It’s ‘so modern, so fresh, and so strong,’ says Viard, who watched the movie, which features Cocteau himself, with cameos from his lover Jean Marais, Pablo Picasso, and Yul Brynner, among others, as she began working on the season. ‘The movie really inspired the collection,’ Viard added. ‘When I came to see the quarry again—I’d been years ago, before it was used for the son et lumiere—I saw that the clothes had to be strong, and black and white. Otherwise we could be in Petra or Egypt.’ ”
See the collection.
Touraine, France: Pre-Fall 2021
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel
The location: “The 16th-century Chenonceau is known as the Chateau des Femmes (the Women’s Castle) because of its association with some powerful ladies through its storied history, notably Diane de Poitiers, the influential mistress of King Henry II, and her rival, Catherine de Medici, the king’s Italian-born, taste-making wife,” Hamish Bowles reported.
The theme: “Viard was thinking of something ‘a little princess-y!’ with this collection.” These included what the reviewer called “Catherine de Medici–via–Coco Chanel ruffled collars” and other detail inspired by the 16th century as well as the location. “ You can find so many details,’ notes Viard. She was astounded to discover, for instance, that Catherine de Medici’s symbol, repeated throughout the chateau, is a linked double C—very similar to the iconic Chanel logo that is so much a part of the brand’s DNA.”
See the collection.
