Indeed, Chanel intuited fashion, distancing herself from the traditional, conservative and inhibitive designs of women’s apparel, of the late 19^th early 20^th century. The use of tweeds and jersey materials, along with quilted bags and jackets, are Chanel trademarks which have been reconstructed at the Metropolitan Museum in New York by Karl Lagerfeld, the current creative designer for the well reputed fashion house of Chanel. The installation is a tribute to a woman who rose from a childhood of poverty to become one of the most powerful and revered fashion designers in the world.

The designs in the collection are retrospective only to the extent that it showcases vintage apparel designed by the late Coco Chanel. Karl Lagerfeld adds a creative twist to his designs by attempting to recreate the past, making yesterday’s fashion a style statement today. The white denim skirt, black denim jeans, the popular little black dress, knitted lace and sparkly tweed are utilized inventively by Lagerfeld, making such archaic pieces of clothing into trendy apparel.

Divided into themes such as Modernism, Romanticism and Iconography, Chanel’s designs capture each mood effectively. The old world charm emanates from the installation as Chanel tries to incorporate signature styles from the older days into the present.