Chanel Takes The Spirit of Coco to Cuba

Chanel Cruise: photo courtesy Chanel

Anyone else freaking out over this?!! My insta  feed was so full of inspiration last week. I am still swooning over all the pictures that I am seeing from Havana. All of the colors of Cuba are just gorgeous . The entire collection is incredible and I am currently day dreaming of drinking Havana's best daiquiri at The Floridita. Vogue Paris knows the way ! 

The gorgeous, tree-lined thoroughfare of El Paseo del Prado in Havana became a runway on May 3rd. It was the setting of Chanel’s new cruise collection,  which mixed the house’s signature styles with riffs on early 1950's suiting, mid-century glam, and the vintage cars that have filled Havana’s streets since time stopped with the 1959 revolution.                 

(all photos courtesy of Vogue.)

The open-air show, set against Havana’s backdrop of colorful architecture and lush foliage, looked amazing, and the 600 or more guests who included celebrities such as Gisele Bündchen and Tilda Swinton, (obsessed with Tilda..find out why here. ) clearly had a blast. It was a joyous Cuban fantasy, complete with a dancing finale, that practically longed for the old days of gambling and luxury before Fidel Castro and communism took over, an awkward message perhaps for anyone who understood the poverty and oppression that contributed to the revolution. It also signaled the sweeping changes set to transform Cuba yet again as it warms to capitalism and restores relations with the US.

The celebration of material wealth that a luxury fashion show like Chanel represents sparked some uncomfortable discussions about the growing gap between the rich and poor in Cuba. One student told Reuters it was an event “for very few people” since Chanel’s products are so expensive, and at present the company does no business in Cuba. Many ordinary Cubans were unable to see the show. According to the AP, hundreds of security agents kept ordinary Cubans blocks away.

But others warmly welcomed Chanel, waving from the dilapidated balconies overlooking the street. “Just because I can’t afford it doesn’t mean I want to deny others that luxury,” another woman told Reuters. “And who knows, maybe one day. It’s important to dream.”

Chanel may be the first luxury fashion label to show in Cuba, but it isn’t the first to find Cuban inspiration since US relations have thawed. A few Cuba-themed collections have appeared, including Castro and Che Guevara look-a-likes. Chanel winked at Guevara, too, with berets that recalled the revolutionary leader and the hat’s French roots.

Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s creative director, is apparently a huge fan of Latin music and was once a competitive cha-cha and tango champion .That love was clear as models clad in dresses costing thousands of dollars danced with Cuban musicians at the end of the show. 

All of this has me missing my pretend Havana...... 

P.S // Shop Sam's Closet  wants to see how you style one of your fave looks from #cococuba. Tag #sscstyle for your chance to win a complimentary blow out !!!!

Here's mine. 

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XO

Sam