Chanel’s Paris-Salzburg Show

Austria isn’t known for its fashion outside of The Sound of Music, lederhosen, and an Alpine sweater or two. However, leave it to Karl Lagerfeld to resurrect the concept of Tyrolean style with a touch of gilded-age fashion in New York. Mere months after presenting his Paris-Salzburg collection in the historic city of Salzburg, Lagerfeld and his team put on a lavish show their third in New York City for a who’s who of fashion, music, art, and pop culture.

Last night, the Park Avenue Armory was transformed into a mesmerizing world mimicking the salon rooms of the Mirabell, Hellbrunn, or Leopoldskron palaces. Opulent chandeliers illuminated the equally high-wattage guests in their sitting rooms, in jewel tones of burgundy, gold, cornflower blue, and dusty green. “To think they put this together in 36 hours is incredible,” said Academy Award–winning costume designer Catherine Martin. “I just had no conception of how they would take the spirit of Salzburg.” Wonderment at the surroundings also captivated Beyoncé, who radiated effortless glamour in a neutral ensemble grounded by a maroon leather skirt; Anna Mouglalis in an ivory, mini tweed frock with simple stilettos; and Vanessa Paradis who brought her daughter, Lily-Rose Depp, who dazzled as bright as the lights in a frothy frock with intricate embellishments.

The show started as guests including Pharrell Williams with wife Helen Lasichanh, Patti Smith, and a coterie of actresses, including Dakota Johnson in a metallic tweed two-piece look, Lily Collins in a daring dress, and Julianne Moore in black sequins, took their places on the plush Louis XVI settees. Everyone audibly perched a bit higher on their seats to get a glimpse of the intricate detailing on Lagerfeld’s rich and textured designs. “I loved all the decorative elements the feathers and the flowers and the embroidery and the little clasps!” said Moore holding court with Chanel’s CEO Maureen Chiquet. “Everything was so beautifully made!” Will we see the newly minted Oscar winner who wore a custom number from Chanel for her win in anything coming up? “I loved that Tyrolean sweater with the leather clasp. That was my favorite!” she exclaimed with glee.

But it wasn’t just Moore swooning over multiple pieces. “I loved the jacket and skirt combos,” said Johnson. “I would rock those for sure.” After the show, guests including André Balazs, Stavros Niarchos III, Loan Chabanol, Élodie Bouchez, and countless others moved behind the palatial setup to enter Chanel’s neo-discotheque for a party replete with custom snacks like double-C pretzels, a nod to the preferred snack of Austria. However, everyone could not stop talking about the collection. “It’s a great homage to lederhosen, so there were some things that were familiar and classic,” said Alexa Chung in a trouser suit from Lagerfeld’s spring collection. Her favorite pieces were, “the long gloves! It was my most coveted item as a child. And the long dresses.” Also enjoying the nod to traditional styling was Collins who said, “I liked the mixing up of the high socks with the shorts with the ladylike blazer. It was very feminine but boyish. Very comfy. Countryside hunting chic.”

After all chatter subsided about the collection, everyone turned their attention to the film, Reincarnation, based off of the collection and featuring model Cara Delevingne and Williams, who wrote, composed, and performed an original song, “CC The World.” Afterwards, everyone was trying to guess if it would be a performance from Williams or Beyoncé or Patti Smith. Or with all the musicians, was it possible that Lagerfeld had staged his own micro-concert? It was Williams who took to the stage but not before thanking Lagerfeld for organizing such a dazzling staging. “It’s the most generous gesture ever,” said Williams to the crowd of being present and able to perform. “I just want to say thank you for doing it at a time when we can be here. That’s incredible.” After performing his classic hits including “Get Lucky” and “Happy,” it was the surprise performance of the film’s song and bringing Delevingne onstage that made the raucous crowd get even louder. After his last tune, guests still reveling in the buzz from the show and performance took to the dance floor. And with that, the hills were truly alive last night . . . with the sounds of Pharrell.