Spring 2006 Couture: Chanel’s Girlhood Fantasy

on January 25th, 2006

Starting a day late, due to my busy first day of classes (my schedule begins with and battles against the shows!), I begin the Spring 2006 Couture shows with a favorite pick: Chanel (picked so before seeing the collections).

Chanel’s show brought us back to 60s mod, with a kickoff look of boxy dresses and prim skirt suits. Black/White boots adorned the lightstepping feet of these walking displays of porcelain models. 60s made way to the good old times of our girlhoods with bows and lace, and all things nice. Every little girl’s fashion fantasy was blown up to twice the size of life, little by little, with spreading flower printed lace and ever-flaring skirts. After every imaginable, frilly expansion, the collection made way to floor-length gowns.

But these were in no way the ordinary or usual gowns we always see. Whether completed by petite jackets, continuing the feel of lace—accent or overflowing, or accentuating woman’s curves with exaggerated widths, once more, the wedding white frocks, amidst the pale or neutral, pushes the biggest dreams of the girl inside for beauty and romance. The shoes became demure and fairy-tale-like. At an over-the-top climax, the show ended with a young lass of pure, innocent beauty, in a flowing number much like a christening gown. Thus the transformation completed.