Chanel’s cruise 2017 runway show landed in Havana, Cuba earlier this week, featuring a collection that was a cross between Parisian chic and Latin flair. Creative director Karl Lagerfeld named the collection ‘Coco Cuba’. Set against the backdrop of the Paseo del Prado, which was redesigned by a French landscape architect in the 1920’s, it was a strong showing of color and style. With a focus on separates, the show opened with Stella Tennant wearing a Panama hat, open shirt, tailored jacket, pinstriped trousers and embellished brogues.
Lagerfeld was inspired by an interpretation of the guayabera, a traditional men’s shirt from Cuba that has pleats running down the front and back of the shirt. For more feminine looks, the Chanel woman wears billowing dresses belted at the waist and featuring flouncy skirts. The look is worn with woven flip-flops or caged sandals. Bags include soft satchels as well a clutch that is shaped like a cigar box—a play on Cuba’s famous good.