Chanel Little Black Jacket Launch Paris
Best Night Ever.
Chanel's 'Little Black Jacket' exhibition has been touring the globe for the past six months and, after being in Sydney last month, it's now arrived in Paris. To honour this homecoming, Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld put on the party to end all parties at the Mini Palais (a misleading name — there is nothing mini about it). It was a veritable fashion shower and every good looking/stylish person in the country was invited, plus a few from overseas.
Upon arrival we were greeted with a glass of champagne before going upstairs to the exhibition space. The crowd perused the room politely and took in the scale of work that Karl has put together. For those not familiar with the project, Karl shot a casual 113 portraits for this exhibition and Carine managed to find a unique way of styling the iconic little black jacket on each and every person. Many of the subjects were in attendance as were some very big names in the industry. I tried to stalk Alber Elbaz and Charlotte Casiraghi for Instagram but, alas, the lighting was too low.
Post-drinks, we all filtered downstairs for a surprise and, even though I'd heard Frank Ocean would be performing, I was surprised nonetheless. With the help of Parisian playboy/man-about-town, André Saraivia, the lower level of the Mini Palais had been transformed into a nightclub. They even built an entrance inside the museum space complete with a neon Chanel sign and a doorman! Inside, it was fitted out with booths, mirrors, and a dance floor that lit up. (Did you get my memo about it being the best venue imaginable?) We stalked rubbed shoulders with the VIPs and I even witnessed Daphne Guinness fall off the raised dance floor in her platforms. (Haider Ackerman was there to catch her — no wonder he is so popular.)
Model Caroline de Maigret and André had the honour of DJing at the start of the night, (neither of whom were particularly familiar with the concept of beat mixing) before the real magic happened. After much excitement and anticipation (read: jumping up and down on the spot), Frank Ocean performed and everyone melted.
After Frank, 2 Many DJs came on and things get a little hazy from there. I think that (in no particular order): I danced until I rediscovered the raver in me, was dipped (that's a dance move BTW) by a security guard, and high-fived Theophilus London while waiting in the line for the bathroom. There was a long wait and it just felt like an appropriate thing to do.
Alice Cavanagh
