CHANEL 20C Explained: Kōki,’s Debut, Travel and a New Era | INTL

CHANEL Cruise 2019/20, or 20C, was presented at the Grand Palais in Paris on 3 May 2019. A Belle Époque railway station set the collection in transit and framed Virginie Viard’s first collection as Artistic Director of Fashion.

The theme is best understood through movement: coloured tweed jackets, relaxed trousers, white mini suits and light dresses passing through the station rather than standing still.

Elie Fahed finds a cinematic route into CHANEL 20C

Fahed’s film for Haya Magazine leads with atmosphere. Light, footsteps and music turn the collection into a compact story, while the clean direction keeps attention on how the clothes move.

The official CHANEL film shows Virginie Viard’s first Cruise in motion

Caroline de Maigret, Soo Joo Park, Tami Williams, Ola Rudnicka and Amanda Sanchez move through the station in the official collection film. The garments feel softer and closer to women in motion than a static description can convey.

Loic Prigent’s camera then enters the fittings and backstage. Camellias and accessories cover the tables while the final character of each look is still being decided.

Kōki,’s runway debut gives CHANEL 20C another beginning

Kōki, made her runway debut in a white jacket and a checked top detailed with red and white camellias. Her posts capture both the finale and the personal scale of that first experience.

Left: Kōki,’s post about joining the 20C runway. Right: a separate CHANEL makeup experience from the same year, not footage from the Cruise show.

Makeup and guest impressions add the final CHANEL 20C layers

The backstage makeup film shows how the collection’s tone was finished. Guest impressions add immediate reactions from ambassadors and friends of the House.

In one collection, a station, a new creative chapter and a first runway walk all point forward. That is the clearest way to remember CHANEL 20C.