“[N]ature makes a good designer, no?” – Karl Lagerfeld, on the Chanel Fall-Winter 2012/13 Ready-to-Wear collection inspiration (WWD).

Karl Lagerfeld transported us to a place crystallized in time with larger-than-life stalagmites jutting through the floors of the Grand Palais in Paris and shooting toward the skies.  The purple-grey tones set the mood for the 2012/12 fall-winter ready-to-wear collection.  Lagerfeld’s quip about nature being a good designer is evident from his taking inspiration from nature for many of his previous shows including glaciers, burnt embers of the earth and the sea.

Referring to the crystals, Lagerfeld stated, “[t]hese shapes are millions of years old”, yet somehow they managed to inspire silhouettes and shapes in apparel that were new.  Karl Lagerfeld has played with the skirts over pants look for a few seasons and he continued it again for Fall-Winter 2012/13.  I admit, I am not a fan of this look – I like either pants or skirts – not both at the same time.  That said, by pairing them together we see the flexibility you have to wear either or both and it’s nice to have options.  My favorite items – apparel wise – from this collection are the cropped, ankle-length skinny pants. I’ve been hemming my pants to this length lately and seeing this look on the runway made me feel like Uncle Karl approved.

You all know I love Chanel but I was not a fan of the overall silhouette – simply because I felt like it wasn’t very flattering or pretty.  The rounded shoulders were ok but the belling out at the hips of the coats and the skirts over the pants threw me off with some looks.  It looked like something that would work only on the bodies of super-models, and even on them I didn’t think it was the most flattering.  That said, the artistry, as always was spectacular.  The rich tweeds, the delicate lace, the finishes on the fabrics to give them a metallic sheen and most of all the luxurious feathered pieces were all stunning in their deceptive simplicity.

Accessory-wise this was not my favorite show either – don’t hate me, I’m just being honest.  I found that the cuffs with large crystals sometimes read a little bit New Age-hippy-dippy to me.  That said, there were also spectacular pieces like the collars/chest plates, the sexy line of the shoes, the mesh gloves (and the length of the gloves!) and the handbags (not counting the crushed velvet ones).  I’m sure as more detailed images are released I will find more to love.

All in all, I think this was a successful collection but it’s almost a relief to see a Chanel show and know that I won’t be pining away for every single item in the show.  I’ll need a little breathing room to save for pieces from the next collection (or prior collections!).  View the full collection below…

Images: Style