Chanel Pre-fall 2011 show

Watching the Pre-Fall 2011 show, you get amazed by the craftsmanship of the artisans the House of Chanel is working with. “After the Petit Palais, I wanted to go back to something intimate,” Lagerfeld said, Lagerfeld had transformed the second-floor couture salon at the brand's iconic Rue Cambon store into a sort of Ottomanesque chill-out room, with low stained glass tables and two rows of patterned square pillows in gold -the same golden fabric entirely embroidered for the occasion in tiny bronze sequins that covered the walls of the room- to seat the 136 fans and friends of the house. The show unfurled to the music of Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon.

The theme for the collection is Paris-Byzance, Lagerfeld explained that he was inspired by the Empress Theodora and the lost culture of Byzantium "Theodora was a circus artist who became empress, like Chanel, who was a little singer and became a fashion empress."
In the collection, navy pea coats trimmed with exquisite little jeweled buttons, square-heeled shoes, slim jeans in fabric made just for the house, jeweled flat sandals, black leather gloves, and quilted handbag encrusted with big glittering stones, transparent embroidered dress (my fav. piece and look, the above photo), multicolored knits made decadent with gold thread, embroidered fringe, and chunky gold chains knitted right in. Some bohemian looks are new at Chanel and Karl presented them in a perfect image and styling.
The show ended and left a weird feeling in me, i don't know if the collection is one entire collection or 2 different collections put together, I am so sure all the jewelry and embroidery didn't make it a tacky show specially that what was about to fall into this category was very well accessorized and styled (and i love the red boots) but the show ended and I feel i saw something new and lots of deja-vu...
Also at the show, heavy knits worn with flat sandals!!! and Baptiste Giabiconi appeared twice in the show and all he had to do is change his knit, as for the pants and shoes, he kept the same ones.

All guests stayed long after the show ended, drinking tea from gold-embellished glasses or water from golden goblets and enjoying trays of Turkish delight. Lagerfeld and his posse were off to Berlin by private jet, where he was scheduled to photograph a Volkswagen campaign.