Chanel last night presented its resort 2017 collection in Havana, Cuba, last night, making history as the first luxury label to to present on the Caribbean island, a compelling location for the label in part because of how it connects with Chanel’s own past. The catwalk was staged along Havana’s Paseo del Prado, a tree-lined 550-foot long promenade originally designed in 1772 by French architect Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier.
Chanel invited 600 guests from outside of Cuba, but residents of Cuba were also welcome to watch. Guests including Gisele Bundchen, Anna Wintour and Tilda Swinton, who were chauffeured to the events in brightly-colored vintage cars. Kendall Jenner walked the runway, as did Binx Walton, Soo Joo Park, along with a handful of Cuban models.
The presentation ended with a Carnival-esque finish, complete with drummers and singers, who accompanied the models as they danced down the street. Karl Lagerfeld closed the event, walking hand in hand with his godson, Hudson Kroenig.
Chanel finished with an after party at which onlookers delightfully spied head designer Karl Lagerfeld dancing with model Cecile Cassel. Lagerfeld wore a shimmery jacket from Saint Laurent’s spring 2016. It was designer’s Hedi Slimane’s final menswear collection with the label, a satorial choice by Lagerfeld that will no doubt add a bit more fuel to the rumor that this show will be Lagerfeld’s final one with Chanel, with Slimane said to be next in line to replace him.
