This morning marked the first Chanel fashion show since Karl Lagerfeld’s death and it was tinged with raw emotion. Fashion editors, stylists, bloggers, celebrities, all gathered to the Grand Palais to say goodbye to the legendary designer and pay homage to his unprecedented work at the French house since 1983. Officially the last collection designed by Lagerfeld, each garment that came out on the runway felt like a piece of history. The last conversation he would ever have with the world of fashion.

The show was set in an immaculate white snowy landscape, complete with wooden ski chalets, made to resemble a small village in the mountains. A calm and serene setting for a show that felt more special than ever. After a minute of silence, for the guests to reflect and show their never ending respect for Karl Lagerfeld, the models started strutting down the runway, lined with winter trees and lampposts. As a long-time face of Chanel, Cara Delevingne opened the show in a black and white tweed overall and a boyish houndstooth jacket. The tone was set for a collection that captured perfectly the effortless femininity instilled by Lagerfeld at Chanel through all these decades. Volumes were soft and slouchy, evoking comfort but not without poise.

With this sudden goodbye, fashion can only hope Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy will last through time, leaving the mark of an era that did not compromise.

All photos by Frank Perrin.