Tatler sat down with the Olympic medallist and Friend of Chanel at the Chanel cruise 2024 show in Shenzhen to discuss fashion, sports, achievements—and what it means to love oneself ‘1 per cent more’
A fashion show in a non-traditional fashion city not only provides reasons for VIPs and journalists from all around the world to travel but also offers an opportunity to view a collection from new perspectives. While Shenzhen may not be an obvious choice for fashion enthusiasts, its astounding economic growth in recent years, coupled with its young, dynamic, innovative demographic, provides a resonant yet refreshing backdrop for a collection that is rule-breaking and unconventional, such as the Chanel Cruise 2024 collection.
The collection, which first showed in Los Angeles in May 2023, pays homage to the brand’s deep-rooted connection to Hollywood. It harks back to the time when Coco Chanel began creating clothes for movies, collaborating with renowned directors such as George Cukor and Jean Renoir in the 1930s. The Shenzhen Bay Sports Centre became the second stage for the collection to shine, with Hollywood glamour spiced up with elements of Californian chic, featuring combinations like bodysuits with leg warmers and trainers, T-shirts paired with running shorts and skateboards, and a playful range of shoes equipped with LED-lit heels.
Excitement about the collection was further stirred up when an array of accessories hit the runway, such as bus-shaped clutches, star-shaped pouches, sequinned and leather bags in sunset hues, and a stacking of necklaces and bracelets featuring playful motifs such as sneakers and palm trees. Since she assumed the role, Virginie Viard, creative director of Chanel, has become renowned for seamlessly blending the brand’s glamour into wearable pieces. Still, the joyful, vibrant note she presented in this collection pleasantly surprised many, including the Olympic medallist Siobhán Haughey, a guest at the show in Shenzhen. “I love the energy and the vibrancy of the show,” said Haughey. “It’s playful, it’s fun, it’s glamorous. I felt like I was transported to sunny California, rollerskating by the beach.”
As the venue transformed into a bustling night market after the fashion show, amid fried noodles and champagne, Haughey shared with Tatler her excitement for the upcoming Olympics and her journey of self-love.
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