This is going to be a long one- I can’t stop looking at this sheepy fabulousness!
scratch, scratch-
I want this jacket- I have sleeve envy. 
Anyone know how to make a wooly Elizabethan ruff? I demand a tutorial! 
hmm-
I love this one- 
This is a big wooly collection- 79 looks- we must press on-
This makes my inner 80’s gal very giddy-
I want! I want! But where would I wear this? 
I must start being more selective- I can’t show everything, but this one- oh….
Oh, it’s glittery AND wooly! Those are magical sheep! 
Kazz– are you out there? This collar is for you!
Ding! We have a sheer bodice sighting! Our Wednesday is complete! 
Ok, I think this was Florence Welchs prom dress…
The happiest model-the only one not scratching
photo credits: style.com
Pretty Grievances 
Fabulous! Another one for Vogue Patterns, I think.
I’ve got a book called The Tudor Tailor which has quite a bit about ruff making – they are linen though. There are patterns for various ruffs in it. There is also a lovely jacket – called a waistcoat – that I plan to make some day. I got as far as buying fabric and then had to use it to make the last quilt. Never mind, some day…
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I think Vogue needs to hop on this- I have some textured wool….oh, who am I kidding! It may never be cold enough for this here!?
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I want the tights.
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Me too!!
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Well It certainly is cold enough here in Wisconsin for wool prom dresses-lol What an inspiring collection, Have pinned several images for inspiration, Now I just have to figure out how to get more sewing accomplished …sigh
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It has wonderful tailoring potential!
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Beautiful…so much texture and put together so well. Feast for the eyes. The red coat paired with the red plaid scarf is the one I drooled over the most and very wearable.
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Red plaid is just so rich!
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I thought this was such a terrible collection…who was Karl dressing? Seriously?!
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It is beyond impractical, but Im weirdly drawn to it! A deep need for plaid?
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Love the first 2 coats… Doubt I’d ever need wool here in San Diego… Sigh. I noticed some Boy George inspiration in the mix… And those super puffy sleeves? If I was on a sinking ship they’d probably save me!!!
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But you would smell like a gamey sheep if you bobbed in the water too long!
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I want that first coat with the side empire buckles. Love it!
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Too pretty!
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I’ve got to admit. I do love this collection. Must be speaking to the Scottish girl inside me. I had no idea I was channeling Chanel when I put the leather buckle on my sweater refashion a few weeks ago. Love it!!!
I’m off to create an Elizabethan Ruff Tutorial for you.
Thanks for sharing!
Beth
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Yay! Ruff tut’!
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I love plain, truly, madly, deeply. but as for the itch factor, scary. the only place I can imaging wearing some of these outfits is a Renn faire.
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I meant to say I love plaid, (not plain…not enough coffee this morning after a Cabernet soaked Christmas 🙂
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Plaid lust overwhelmed you, it happens!
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You’d be the toastiest wench on the midway!
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The last two dresses may have a chance at normal. The detached puffy sleeves and bust buckles are a hoot but the shoes…those poor girls, one wears socks and Birkenstocks and the other some of her older brother’s Desert Boots from the 70’s. Is Karl trying to out plaid Vivian Westwood? But hey couldn’t we gals surrounded by snow use those wrist warmers? The pine green coat outfit was beautiful even with the hat…I didn’t know that Lily Tomlin was modelling for Chanel.
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Oh- a Lagerfeld and Westwood combo would be phenominal! Of course, just watching them wrestle would also be cool!
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Love the colours and the drape of the cloths. Romantic and supple.
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Its true! All these layers and its still so supple!
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The Chanel sicret is fabric. When you look at the garments – generally speaking they are not so complicated – but the used fabrics and colourse, ideas and playing with fabrics make these all so wonderful!…
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So if I stop using quilty cotton for everything, maybe I can look more Lagerfeldian? I wonder how much fabric costs…..
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Just think, we’d be conserving energy in the winter by wearing this stuff–you’d almost be forced to shut the heater off with this much woolly goodness!! We’d be saving the planet!
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Oh, we are too good, arent we? I love how stylishly noble we are!
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Seriously, I love that dark green outfit, makes me want to watch Brave again! I must find a hat like that too. Boy, does she look great in it. I like the bust buckles, of course she really doesn’t have a buckle worthy bust, but man, it gives locked and loaded a whole new meaning. I love seeing patterns using wool, love sewing with wool and most importantly, I love wearing wool.
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I miss winter clothing!! I should have known all these textures would be right up your tree!
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Having received a copy of Claire Shaeffer’s Couture Techniques I shudder to think how long these 70+ outfits took make!! And to think Coco Chanel was famous for her elegant simplicity LOL.
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300 hours to make elegant simplicity!
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What to wear at a steampunk ball in the Highlands! Love it!
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Oh perfect! For the annual Parasol Protectorate Formal!!
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Great to see you are working over the holidays to bring us the Wearable Wednesday segment. Love the first coat ….. but that’s about it for me. I’m just a boring conservative.
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You can still come to our Highland Fling, wouldnt want to miss you!
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Hee. Locked and Loaded.
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How is it possible to be so atrocious and so wonderful all at the same time? In my head, it is totally possible to wrap one’s self in a kilt/coat/wool blanket and live in gloriously photogenic bliss among heather and snow. Of course, in reality, that ends up being more soggy and crabby than stunningly gorgeous, but this is why I spend so much time in my head. 🙂
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I do prefer this textural odyssey to the Versailles palace pastel business last collection- by where is my Swinton? She would carry all of this off so well with her Icy majesty!
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The last one had enough sense to just walk out in her underwear!
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She had to be thrilled to be so unencumbered!
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I really like the first two coats, though they make me think of Charles Dickens! The rest of it? Not so much. Though I kind of like the greenish-grayish one with the skirt that looks like tree branches in winter–the one worn by the seriously ticked off looking model with the black hat and the coat (cape?) over her shoulders. (Is there some kind of modeling rule that you can’t walk the runway unless you look either unhappy or angry? Does this make it more “artistic”?)
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There is alot of interesting details on that green number, I think the models are so focused on not scratching that they forgot to smile. Yes, thats it.
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Many of the models look pissed — as would I if I had to wear those, Chanel or no.
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Maybe it’s the Bride of Frankenstein hair.
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The kaiser does not condone levity on his moors or his catwalk!
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It looks like casting for Le Miz and then for Game of Thrones and then…ah too much.
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Brigadoon of Thrones! Plaid Winter is coming!
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Is it wrong that I have a sudden urge to learn to yodel…in French, or possibly Elizabethan English? Costumes, costumes…! Has anyone seen the dungeon keys….?
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I know I hid the keys in my plaid coat, now which one…..
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Ach, aye. There be a tartan bubble skirt kilt. My life is complete.
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Could you get the team behind a wardrobe shift? The ‘rioting rob roys’?
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*shocked gasp* I cannot BELIEVE you reviewed the sacred house of Chanel! Actually, truth be told, I’ve been wondering when you would! haha I love Chanel. Well, probably more like stand in slack-jawed wonder of Chanel. If I had a wardrobe of Chanel-only, I would be in textile heaven. *sigh* Can I just have everything, please?
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I need to move to a colder climate to love these better- so special!!!
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I… honestly, I think that I love it all. Although, there a bit of flash back to the ’80s and Prince/Purple Rain in there.
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I can so see myself in the mall in some of these- the new Heathers!
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I stopped looking at Chanel collections in the ’90s because it got so boring. But this collection is amazing, I’m very awestruck by it. The blending of Game of Thrones with Working Girl is pretty brilliant. On paper this collection should’ve been a trainwreck, but I can’t find anything to criticize. I would consider a sex change operation to wear this stuff (and robbing a bank as well to afford it).
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‘$500!? And its not even leatha…’
Love Working Girl! Why wasnt Parker Posey in that?
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So loving that over-coat in the 6th picture. What is that she’s carrying in her hand? a matching purse? LOVE.
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It is wooly specialness, isnt it?!
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I love those first two coats, they look so cosy.
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They drew me in!
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Well, who doesn’t love Chanel? Albeit, these do look very period costume-y, so you’d have to have the attitude to pull them off. And a place to wear them. But, why do the models look so angry??
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Its the heatstroke- makes them cranky!
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WOW! Collars are coming back, maybe? Let’s hope, because I adore them! And Florence Welchs Prom Dress… I can see my own version in the future…
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I want to see some makes inspired by these lovelies!
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Oh boy a prom dress with pockets? Lordy :o)
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A very good idea!
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How very Shakespearean. I like aspects of a lot of the collection although it would take a different frame of mind to see how to incorporate it into daily wear. I do love that first coat, although I suspect I’d feel like I was drowning in fabric.
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It is a heavy collection- wispy models probably needed back support!
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Oh Chanel – my favourite! So every outfit is perfect in every way and there’s absolutely no criticism of any kind. If only I could contribute to the charity called Chanel……some of these do look a little (just a little, mind you) thrift shop put togethers
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Maybe if they just changed shoes- the clompy furries are a bit heavy!
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Och Aye! at last Chanel comes home! ( she has a fling with a Scottish duke – a highland fling you might say – I know, I know) Chanel has recently bought up an ailing cashmere factory in Scotland. Oh the lure of couture -fingers crossed there’s a factory shop! Love these- the glittery woolly number is my fav
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Did you see the video of this collection? In snowy Scotland! The models were the only people who were warm. The show was in Linlithgow Palace, which inspite of what the French think is not in Edimbourg, or even Edinburgh.
http://www.chanel.com/fashion/8-paris-edimbourg-2012-13-metiers-d-art-chanel
-fashion-show-33,0#8-paris-edimbourg-2012-13-metiers-d-art-chanel-fashion-sh
ow-33,0
(You may wish to mute your speaker.)
As to the mix of historical periods, it is a bit of a mash-up of Elizabethan, Stewart, Georgian and more. But very fun. I have always wanted to know how to look fashionable in the winter. Now there is some hope!
Sandy in the UK
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Ooh! Thanks for this!!
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I actually really like the buckle detail on the last pretty dress – such a nice contrast! Might have to add this to my overstrained inspiration file.
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