GABRIELLE

CHANEL.

FASHION

MANIFESTO

At the beginning of the 20th century, when overly decorative styles dominated Western women's fashion, Gabrielle Chanel's clothes, with their minimalist and precise characteristics, revolutionized the field of haute couture, liberated the bodies of her contemporaries, and ultimately formed a fashion statement.

Presented at the Power Station of Art (PSA), Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto focuses on the classic style created by Gabrielle Chanel from a new perspective. The techniques and materials she used will be displayed here to interpret her aesthetic choices and pursuit of perfection.

The exhibition is organized chronologically and thematically, and consists of two main chapters, showing Ms. Chanel's creations from the 1910s to the 1930s, and her works after returning to the fashion world from 1954 to 1971. Her career began with a series of iconic works, including the famous jersey knitted fabric striped sailor shirt, a design element that first appeared in Chanel's collection in 1913. From the sports-style clothing and little black dresses of the 1910s to the exquisite dresses born in the 1920s, the development and evolution of Chanel's style is clearly visible. The first part of the exhibition focuses on the creative concepts of simplicity, youth, dynamism and charm, which have been frequently mentioned by the media since the beginning of Chanel's career. With a series of unique works, these concepts are perfectly demonstrated in the exhibition, showing the uniqueness of Gabrielle Chanel's design.

In addition, the exhibition aims to present Gabrielle Chanel's consistent creative philosophy and tell how her clothing, beauty products, accessories and jewelry form a coherent whole and ultimately shape a unified style. Therefore, a dedicated exhibition room will display Chanel No. 5 perfume, which was born in 1921 and is a typical work of Gabrielle Chanel's creative spirit.

The second part of the exhibition covers Chanel's creations from the 1950s until her last collection in 1971. Chanel returned to the world of haute couture in 1954, going against the grain and reaffirming her fashion statement. Through tweed suits with braided hems, two-tone shoes and 2.55 quilted bags, visitors can decipher the style codes of the Chanel brand. The costume jewellery and high jewellery pieces that complement the gold-woven suits contrast with the restraint of Chanel's clothes, reminiscent of her mastery of contrast. At the end of the exhibition, a selection of designs and two films illustrate Gabrielle Chanel's last few collections, showing her consistent pursuit of creation and self-renewal. She was loyal to her style and went against the trends of her time. She was a true avant-garde. In April 1921, Paris Vogue reported: "Chanel has almost never changed her style, and this is precisely her strength."

As an extension of the exhibition, each theme is complemented by a portrait of Gabrielle Chanel. Through her personal interpretation of the works, the designer herself becomes the embodiment of the brand.

The exhibition "Gabrielle Chanel. Fashion Manifesto" invites visitors to step into and explore the universe of timeless style, presenting more than 200 works, including collections from the Palais Galliera and the Chanel Heritage Department, as well as collections from many international museums and art institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the FIDM Museum at Arizona State University in Los Angeles, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Aleia Foundation.