In 2019, the tempo was set by spectacular runway shows, the arrival of new creative directors in major houses, and emotional goodbyes. Hundreds of fashion shows were organized throughout the year, but three particularly stood out from the others: Bottega Veneta, Balmain Homme and Chanel.
Here is why they were different.
Bottega Veneta
The Italian house was in the spotlight in Milan last February for the presentation of the first collection by Daniel Lee, who had been appointed as the brand’s creative director in June 2018.
Combining a futuristic spirit with traditional techniques, this debut collection was unanimously acclaimed by the fashion sphere. It was a more than promising start for the British designer, who went on to win in a multitude of categories at the 2019 Fashion Awards, held on Dec. 2 (Accessories Designer of the Year, Brand of the Year, British Designer of the Year for Womenswear and Designer of the Year).
Balmain Homme
Olivier Rousteing caused a sensation at the 2020 spring-summer menswear week in June with a concert and runway show in the Jardin des Plantes in Paris, which coincided with the city’s music festival “Fête de la musique” on June 21. The event, which was the first of its kind, began with the presentation of Balmain’s new menswear collection.
Then the new prince of French techno, Gesaffelstein, was the first act to kick off a series of concerts. No less than 1,500 tickets were sold to the public to attend this mini-festival, whose proceeds were donated to the (RED) global fund to fight AIDS.
Chanel
The year of 2019 was marked not just by one but by several Chanel fashion shows. In the months that followed the death of Karl Lagerfeld on Feb. 19, the French house had many “firsts”: the first show without the “kaiser” of fashion, and also the first Ready-to-wear, Cruise, Haute Couture, and Métiers d’Art collections entirely by Virginie Viard, who took over from the famous creative director.
However, the most striking show was the one for the 2019 fall-winter season staged in the Grand Palais, which was transformed into a ski resort for the occasion. It was the first show without Karl Lagerfeld and the last to feature a collection designed by him. It began with a minute’s silence and ended with a standing ovation for a man who had left his mark on the French luxury house and on the history of fashion. IB/JB
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