Style shoot: Strutting Chanel on the streets of Manchester – why the French luxury brand launching its 2023-24 Métiers d’Art show in the gritty British north made perfect sense
- From Joy Division, The Smiths, Oasis and The Stone Roses, to baggy, Madchester and the hedonism of The Haçienda, Manchester is renowned as an edgy and creative cultural capital
- Rather than Rome, New York or Paris, creative director Virginie Viard chose the city’s Northern Quarter to launch Chanel’s latest range of leather separates, funky jeans and baby-doll dresses – here’s Style’s exclusive cover shoot
When Chanel announced that its 2023-24 Métiers d’Art show would take place in Manchester, England, it came as a bit of a surprise. The French luxury brand has previously looked to locations as diverse as Dallas, Edinburgh, Rome and Dakar, but Manchester – a gritty city known for its industrial heritage, gloomy weather and hardcore nightlife – seems far removed from the rarefied world of Parisian couture.
First unveiled in the city’s Northern Quarter, a neighbourhood filled with cool shops, hip restaurants and art galleries, creative director Virginie Viard paid homage to Manchester’s musical legacy with a range of leather separates, funky jeans, baby-doll dresses paired with Mary Jane shoes and some colourful looks in Chanel’s signature tweed, standing in stark contrast with the city’s stereotypically gloomy weather.
Our June cover shoot celebrates the very best of Manchester’s youthful, rebellious spirit and punk rock edge by showcasing Chanel’s latest Métiers d’Art collection pieces out and about across the city’s various cultural and industrial landmarks. Designed to look just as good on the streets as they did on the runway, these pieces embody the freedom of spirit which not only dominate the pages of our June travel issue but also celebrate a “second city” that is actually second to none, with plenty to offer for those looking for true grit with a touch of glamour.
