Chanel presented its couture spring 2019 collection, in the surroundings of what looks like a luxurious villa, complete with a swimming pool and green trees,

For this season, Karl Lagerfeld was largely inspired y the 18th century and all the elements that were used by couturiers to embellish their creations. He thus used the skills of the French couture suppliers to evoke flowers in feathers and hand-painted sequins, even using dried flowers dipped in resin, that were embroidered or applied to materials running the gamut from airy organza, chiffon, and lace, to gleaming leather and the house’s signature handwoven tweeds. In other examples of the house’s workmanship, lace was hand-painted or iced with silicone whorls to suggest blue or pink and white china; tulle was shredded into fine strips at the cuff and hem of a suit ensemble or was plaited and sewn into dense grids over a base of filmy lace.

By the end of the show, Lagerfeld didn’t make his usual appearance, and his absence was very much felt by the guests. On his behalf, studio director Virginie Viard saluted the audience, and was met by a well deserved round of applause.