CHANEL Resort 2016 show in South Korea

                                                              By Deborah Ferguson    

Karl Lagerfeld conquers a new territory in which other luxury brands have not yet explored: South Korea.

“I think people don’t know so much about it. They know everything about China and Japan, but I think they don’t know so much about [South] Korea. I thought it was a good idea,” the designer said during a fitting before the Korean-inspired Chanel cruise show that he showed  Monday night at the futuristic Dongdaemun Design Plaza.

  South Korea has a prominent pop culture whether it be K-Pop, their soap operas, and or their own talented RTW designers, yet the western world is highlighting China,Japan etc. CHANEL showing in South Korea is both a political and cultural statement, on the eve of The Met Gala which highlights all that is Chinese culture and fashion.

  Karl shares his POV on how Korean art, traditional fashion 'hanboks'' ( South Korean version of a Kimono)  pop culture inspired his Resort 2015 collection “It’s a cosmopolitan idea of the local fashion"the show. “This doesn’t exist in [any] other country in the eastern part of the world — only in Korea,” Lagerfeld said of the patchwork technique, volumious, high waisted silhouettes that he presented.

The traditional CHANEL tweeds, in bright weave tones were notable.  “It’s an updated Korean version of the Chanel jacket,” Lagerfeld noted.

The hair design referenced South Korean Period dramas with oversized thick braids in interesting formations that were a cross between mini Mouse and traditional crowns. The leather socks 'built in' to the chunky low heels were also a nod to traditional South Korean costume.

Karl created one of his key collaborators: Kim Young Seong ; a South Korean CHANEL fabric researcher. The South Korean influence is apparent in patchwork and bright weaves, which are stand out looks.

    Somehow CHANEL /Karl Lagerfeld was able to ensure some of his A-list front row gallery was flown to South Korea despite the the Met Gala the next day in NYC; Kirsten Stewart,Gisele Bundchen, Tilda Swinton, Lo-Fang,Isabelle Huppert, and Rink Kikuchi. And some local K-Pop talent ; rapper G-Dragon, Krystal,Taeyang, actress Shin-Hye Park,and Ah-Sung Go.

“I wanted something that was the modem part of Korea,” Lagerfeld explained regarding his show presentation.

And he also mentioned his famous feline companion;

“It’s too dangerous,” he said, explaining the decision not to bring his feline to the South Korean capital. “I get images all of the time. I can even speak to her if she appears on the screen with her maid.”

Overall, the show’s audience responded positively to Lagerfeld’s reinterpretation of their culture.

“The styling was really Korean. They mixed a lot of elements of traditional Korean style with Chanel’s own identity…[and] I was so proud to see this as a Korean,” G-Dragon said.

Yoona Im, a K-pop star with the group Girls’ Generation, was one of many to comment on the distinctive hairpieces. “The hairstyles were very Korean – they incorporated the use of the traditional Korean wig….It was so impressive, I could see a balance between Eastern and Western cultures in the collection.”

 Kristen Stewart shares her CHANEL trip to South Korea “We walked through a park. We ate a lot of Korean barbecue. I made myself really sick, which is awesome. I ate too many chilis. We went to a Korean spa and I’ve never been cleaner in my entire life or less relaxed,” said the actress.

Gisele Bündchen “I love the food and I love all the greenery,” she told her fans as they filmed her on their smartphones. “I like how you guys take care of your environment. That’s important to me.”

Chanel has 15 boutiques in South Korea. Pavlovsky said Chanel is gearing up for a major opening in Seoul in 2017, a Peter Marino-designed flagship. Pavlovsky said the store will be “exactly the same kind of operation” as Tokyo’s Ginza store, a 10-story landmark in Tokyo housing an Alain Ducasse restaurant.