Chanel SS19

Multitasking must be second nature to a polymath like Lagerfeld. Fittingly, many of the pieces from Chanel’s SS19 collection playfully moonlighted as other objects. Set at the seaside, a sandy runway staged hard spherical bags, perspex paneled like a beachball but hanging from a leather-laced chain, and fluffy terry 2.55s you can imagine doubling as a good headrest for sunbathing. You can dream, but don’t dare test. These quilted icons, often styled in pairs – chains making an X across the body to bolster a satchel at each hip – were born to bring about beach bag envy.

Pastel pink bouclé flecked with pixel-like primary hues mimicked the beach towel with its baggy bandeau silhouette, suspended by shoulder straps much like the signature handbag chains. Watercolor prints abstracted pretty parasols, cut and pasted on repeat across knitted co-ords, georgette tea dresses, and sharp shirts with organza puff shoulders. Tailoring did things on the double with wide and boxy proportions, tweed shifts and shirt dresses cut above the knee but weighted with bell-shaped dropped shoulders. Over bare legs with a pair of PVC mules in-hand, it all looks terribly liberating; even when the wool suits trade places with lacquered leather, their decadent ‘80s details never feel too heavy, perhaps by pairing trophy jackets with audaciously short miniskirts or twice-sliced midis, whose slits can fasten with the trick of a zip if the coastal weather takes a turn. Day at the beach or dress up to the nines? Now you can do it all.