Mathieu Blasi's Chanel Haute Couture debut transported the show's guests to a fairy-tale garden of giant mushrooms and pale pink weeping willows. The collection was full of romance: sheer suits with organza skirts, hems decorated with natural pearls, and love letters hidden in light-as-air bags.
The theme of nature ran through every detail of the show — right down to the models’ manicures. The famous nail artist Ama Kouachi was responsible for the nail design. She said that initially the team planned to leave the nails clean, without any coating. But in the process of working, Matthieu Blasi changed his mind: he felt that the collection needed its own, unique nail accent.
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Inspired by Blasi's vision, a team of five assistants, along with Quashie, began experimenting with colors, effects, and lengths. Fifty designs were created, which were whittled down to 30, and Mathieu eventually chose the final five. All nails were medium length and softly almond-shaped.
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Chanel's “bird” nails: tropical birds, common pigeons
“I looked at the 'bird' references that Mathieu had placed on the wall, from ordinary pigeons to tropical birds with acid green and blue feathers. Some I didn't even know existed,” says Kouachi.
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But for Chanel, the usual “dove” gray would have been too simple. The master complemented it with iridescent iridescence, exactly those that occur in nature in the gaps between the feathers of birds, when light slides over them. “The nails were unique – just like the models,” she explains. To emphasize the closeness of the manicure to nature, the master combined matte and shiny surfaces, complementing them with glossy, radiant accents.
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Some models wore shades of purple and green — a symbol of poison — as a reminder that nature can be not only beautiful but also dangerous. “We went through three stages of editing to get everything perfect,” adds Kouachi.
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Behind the scenes, everything from polishes and gels to magnets, pearlescent and matte textures were used. Chanel shades Alchimiste, White Silk and Sorciere played a special role. “During the final approvals, I literally held my breath,” the master admits.
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Based on material from: Vogue.co.uk