Y’all ready for this? Karl Lagerfeld is coming to Dallas

By Melanie Galindo

A light snow drifted down on patrons seated in the hard wooden seats at Scotland’s Lithlinglow Castle last December as they watched the Chanel-clad models parade past.  Wrapped in heavy winter coats normally checked at the door, the well-heeled audience braved the weather to experience Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld’s Métiers d’Art show.

Known for their extravagant settings in exotic locations, the shows have previously been featured in such sites as Versailles, Paris, Venice, Moscow, and, yes, even the ruins of Lithlinglow Palace in Edinburgh.

So what destination is next on this grand-scale list? Dallas. As in Texas. Reported by Women’s Wear Daily and confirmed by Vogue, Chanel’s Dallas Métiers d’Art show will take place Tuesday, Dec. 10, in our own backyard.

History of Métiers d’Art

With stylish excitement building by the day, now is the time to explore the history behind this unparalleled annual show and the precedent that it will set for Dallas. Métiers d’Art isn’t just a fancy way of distinguishing the collection. The phrase (pronounced may-tee-yay) is derived from the French word mestier and the Latin word ministerium, signifying that an atelier skilled in the art of craftsmanship worked on the collection.

In 1997, Chanel acquired eight Parisian specialty ateliers. With this acquisition, the iconic design house set out to support and preserve fashion’s traditional way of craftsmanship. The original group consisted of a wide variety of specialty artisans ranging from metalworkers to floral and feather accessory experts.

Lagerfeld founded the Métiers d’Art show in 2002 as a means of showcasing these couture craftsmen in a runway setting as opulent as their designs. In doing so, he paved the way for the modern trend of hyper-luxury by featuring products that are rare, ultra-exclusive and unapologetically expensive. Lagerfeld’s 2002 launch of the Métiers d’Art show also marked the beginning of the fashion world’s explosive obsession with pre-collections.

Prior to Métiers d’Art, a fashion house would traditionally release two collections each year – spring and fall. However, the rise and immediate global obsession with Chanel’s December special productions enticed other major fashion houses to follow Lagerfeld’s footsteps with their own pre-fall collections.

The locations for Métiers d’Art shows are equally as important as the fashion. Each year Lagerfeld pays homage to cities that have contributed to the growth and history of Chanel.   The clothes shown are inspired by the culture of each locale — and often more wearable than haute couture.

The story behind Chanel’s love affair with Scotland

Former residence of the Stuarts and birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, Lithlingow Palace in Edinburgh was the site of the December 2012 Métiers d’Art show.  Why Linlithgow Palace?  Scotland is the place where Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel herself fell in love, in more ways than one. In 1924, Coco Chanel entered a relationship with the then Duke of Westminster. Much of their time was spent in the Sutherland region of the Scottish Highlands where they would fish, hunt and play cards.

Before meeting the Duke, Chanel used Scottish wool, preferably from the Shetland Islands, in her atelier. As the romance between the Duke and Chanel blossomed, so did the influence of yet more Scottish materials and traditions – particularly the tweeds and Fair Isle sweaters worn by the Duke as he hunted and fished.

Chanel’s iconic tweed, or bouclé as it is better known, was a result of Coco’s experimentation with the traditional woolen cloth, hand-woven by the inhabitants of the Highlands. After seeing it on the Duke, Coco began using it for sporting outfits, suits and coats. Her French weavers lamented its poor quality and tendency to fault and “buckle,” but Coco loved its irregularity. And so her signature tweed was born.

She also introduced the use of tartan, a traditional checked fabric used by Scottish clans to signify their family allegiance, and the classic geometric Fair Isle pattern. Under Lagerfeld’s direction, Scottish tweed, Fair Isle knits and tartan have continued to be used.

“Chanel, Inc., definitely incorporates their history into the workplace. Everything they do they try to relate it back to Gabrielle Chanel and her life,” said Demi Stanley, SMU Fashion Media student who spent this past summer interning in the Communications department at Chanel corporate headquarters in New York.

The paid tribute to Scotland for serving as a constant inspiration for her iconic tweed creations, cardigans and knitwear. Illustrating its historical significance to the brand, the show was the grandest “thank you” possible to the country as a whole.

And next? Dallas, Texas

This December, history will repeat itself when Lagerfeld brings his stunning thanks to America, by way of Texas. Entitled The Return, the upcoming collection will be inspired by Chanel’s U.S. success in the 1950s.

“To do the opposite, next time, I will go to Dallas,” said Lagerfeld. “You know why? First of all, I love Texas. I love Texans. There’s another reason. When Chanel reopened, the French press was beyond nasty. The only press that understood it immediately was the American press – so I think it’s a nice thing to go there.”

When the house of Chanel reopened its doors after World War II, the French shunned it. However, Dallas-based retailer Neiman Marcus warmly welcomed the luxury brand’s grand return. Thus, our city gets the direct compliment of hosting the next Chanel Métiers d’Art show.

“It’s all been kept very under wraps by Chanel HQ so I don’t know any real details,” said Daniela Hernandez, intern for Chanel Dallas.

Regardless, all eyes will be on Dallas come Dec. 10, as the biggest names in the fashion world meet right at our doorstep, allowing Dallas to continue its growth as an established fashion city.

“I think it takes a lot more than just one event to turn a city into a ‘fashion capital,’ said Christina Geyer, Managing Editor of FD Luxe. “but the Chanel show will certainly put Dallas in the international fashion spotlight, if just for a few days.  I would argue that even though it isn’t New York or Paris, Dallas is an incredibly well respected city when it comes to fashion. It is known as a city where people are still spending a lot of money on fashion — this is why you see designers coming in to town on a regular basis and why a mega fashion house like Chanel would show a collection here in the first place.”

In a way, Texas as the next host of the Métiers d’Art show makes sense. While Dallas may not have global luxury recognition of a city like New York, thanks to oil fortunes, a thriving investment management industry, and a number of blue-chip corporations headquartered in the city, Dallas creates the strong consumer buying power necessary for success in the fashion industry.

Plus everything is bigger here, right? And no one does fashion bigger than Lagerfeld. Maybe we’ll finally get to see Chanel’s take on the cowboy boot and hat.