Luxury house Chanel presented its Spring Summer 2024 Eyewear Collection that encapsulates the essence of freedom and movement, mirroring the carefree sophistication that Virginie Viard envisioned for the season. Drawing inspiration from the Villa Noailles in Hyères, a masterpiece of modernist architecture by Robert Mallet-Stevens, the collection fuses historical elegance with contemporary flair.
The eyewear line is a tribute to the intertwined legacies of Marie-Laure de Noailles and Gabrielle Chanel, two figures renowned for their formidable personalities and close ties to the avant-garde. A highlight of the collection is the fusion of Blue Light lenses with elegant black acetate frames, offering both stylish allure and practical functionality. This design choice underscores Chanel’s dedication to blending fashion with utility. The glasses, with their carefully constructed rectangular frames, showcase the signature metal chain woven with leather, transforming into a lengthy sautoir necklace. This feature captures the essence of liberty that characterizes the collection.
The collection also pays homage to the 1990s with an acetate sunglasses design inspired by shields from the era, adorned with the same emblematic chain detail. This nod to the past underscores Chanel’s ability to celebrate its heritage while steering the course of contemporary fashion.
The eyewear line draws direct inspiration from the Ready-to-Wear collection‘s patterns and textures, as seen in the pairing of a striped jacket and trousers with square sunglasses. These glasses feature a double bridge and are printed with a geometric motif that echoes the iconic double C, symbolizing the integration of Chanel’s design philosophy across different elements of the collection.
The Chanel Spring-Summer 2024 Eyewear Collection is a masterclass in blending history with modernity, showcasing how traditional elements can be reinterpreted in a way that resonates with today’s fashion-forward audience. Through these pieces, Virginie Viard invites us to view the world through lenses that capture the essence of Chanel’s enduring elegance and the boundless creativity that has always been at the heart of the brand.