Source: AFP
Bright colors and celebrities lit up dreary Manchester on Thursday as the British city famous for its former textile industry showcased the latest in fashion at a prestigious Chanel show.
Battered by rain and plunged into winter darkness by 3:30 p.m., the city’s gritty industrial heritage was not an obvious choice as the backdrop for the glitz and glamor of the French luxury group’s Metiers d’Art event.
But the show proved otherwise as models strutted down the catwalk in dazzling Bermudas, miniskirts and dramatic outfits under a makeshift cover on a city center street.
Tweed suits — a quintessential British classic — pearls and camellia also drew attention.
Actor Hugh Grant, director Sofia Coppola, local soccer stars Ruben Diaz and Luke Shaw, as well as brand ambassadors Charlotte Casiraghi and Kristen Stewart were among the celebrities in attendance.
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“I liked the rock attitudes, the ’60s look,” British actress Jenna Coleman told AFP.
The northern English city was the hub of the 19th century industrial revolution, processing half the world’s cotton by 1860.
It has since reinvented itself as a center for culture and sport, home to football clubs Manchester United and Manchester City and producing music icons including The Smiths, Simply Red, Oasis and the Stone Roses.
Source: AFP
England’s National Opera will soon be leaving London to call Manchester home.
Chanel creative director Virginie Viard said Manchester was the starting point for a music culture that changed the world, inspiring her to bring the show there for its pioneering and creative spirit.
Manchester City Council hailed the event as a “fantastic tribute” to the city and its respect around the world.
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“There are a lot of references to the city. Having a Chanel show here is amazing for the city,” added Emma Kara, who lives in the area.
Source: AFP