Surf's Up at Chanel Spring 2019 - Doubled and Around the Neck

Life was a beach during Chanel’s Spring 2019 show at the Grand Palais in Paris. Literally. Models strolled barefoot through sand against a seaside backdrop. The setting, like many of the bags, looked beautiful and reflected the scenery. Interestingly, this is the fourth collection in recent memory with a water theme: recall the shipping ports of Hamburg Germany (Fall 2018), La Pausa Cruise (Cruise 2018/19), and Coco Beach (read Chanel Joins the Navy in Hamburg, Chanel Sails into Cruise 2019 and Brings a New Boy, Chanel Pops up on Capri).

Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld certainly committed to the theme, at least when it came to handbags. Thoughts of the seaside conjure images of beach balls, seashells, fluffy towels, inflatables, waterproof plastics and color. All were reflected in the bags (discussed later).

Two for One Around the Neck

Despite the devotion to the ocean, there were a couple of new(ish) and different handbag concepts. Lagerfeld doubled down on double bags and essentially said to forget the fanny- or back-pack. The new carry is around the neck! Of course, Chanel has shown two bags at once before and made bags attached to other bags. The difference here is the leather tag attaching two bags at the chest. It’s unclear whether they can be detached and used separately. In this regard, wearing a handbag as a necklace seems almost the natural progression.

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

A Day at the Beach

As for the seashore, let’s start with the “special” items: beach ball bags in a variety of fabrications. Of course, Chanel has mastered the round minaudière and these balls could be seen as variation on the global idea. Or, you could be tempted with a game of beach volleyball.

Photo courtesy: wwd.com

Photo courtesy: wwd.com

Photo courtesy: wwd.com

One bag resembled an actual seashell.

Photo courtesy: wwd.com

Classic flaps were fluffy this season but not furry (read Fuzzy View of Chanel Fall Winter 2018).

Photo courtesy: wwd.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

No blow up dolls or floats, but at least one bag looked inflated.

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Gems of the sea – pearls – appeared on their own and with tweeds and plastics.

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Photo courtesy: vogue.com

Pretty Little Ladylike Tweeds and More

Lastly, there were plenty of more traditional looks including ladylike tweeds, structured bags, beachy totes, and one elongated boy in neutrals and colors. As we said earlier . . . pretty.