For the maison's Métiers D’Art Paris-New York 2018/19 show, the spotlight was cast on a magnificent ancient Egypt, threading artistic finery in novel new shoes and bags steeped in iridescent gold.

They’ve explored Greece, launched the runway into outerspace, and imagined a Paris-meets-Bombay scene, but nothing dazzled quite like the Paris-New York 2018/19 Métiers d’art showcase, that referenced a modern Egypt dripping in gold. The Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York played host to the Chanel collection's iconic savoire-faire, paying an homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s love for gold, in flamboyant and iridescent accessories ranging bags and shoes.

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Bags Of Gold

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Above Crocodile-embossed in gold: The upgaded Chanel 11.12 bag

Making a comeback were the beloved Chanel 11.12 and 2.55 bags, shimmering in the exceptional savoir-faire of the Métiers d’art. Extolling a time-honed, precise protocol of 180 operations and movements, these specialty bags can only be achieved by the expertise of Chanel’s Verneuil-en-Halette ateliers. Keeping its iconic shape, the 11.12 bag received a golden treatment in a crocodile print embossed leather.

Dazzle & Dimension

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Above 2.55 bag with a pyramid gold treatment
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Above A wide stripe of geometric flat gold, upon the flap of the 2.55 bag

The 2.55 bag explored a more creative dimension, swathed in wide stripes or pyramid shapes of geometric flat colours on the bag flap. Gold crocodile textured embossed leather is worked into the inlay of the bag’s quilted black body in lambskin, deftly stitched from the underside.

Flamboyant Footwear

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Above Métiers d’art celebrates Egyptian in an alternative 'golden' era

The artistry of the Métiers d’art extended to the choice footwear of boots, booties and sandals, with gold as the stylistic anchor. A crocodile-style embossed gold leather permeated 2 boot and bootie designs, pumping a revised eighties look upon these their coveted designs.

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Bold Boots

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Above Thigh high boots with 2-toned black and gold, and rounded knee detail
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Above Lamé gold leather heeled booties

The house of Massaro, the century-old couture footwear partner of Chanel, introduced 4 designs in lamé leather; 2 distinct thigh boots, and 2 sandals in flat or small heels. The statement thigh boots reference design subtleties in the form of a rounded knee and black-toe cap, with jewelled 10.5cm heels of enamel and multicoloured cabochon columns, bringing to mind ancient Egyptian cyphers.

Refined Subtleties

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Above Pointe-toe sandals in gold emboss
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Above Interlacing fine gold straps adorn flat gold sandals

Sandals gleam with a gold emboss of crocodile-style engraved leather, adopting bold detailing of interlacing fine gold straps, forming a connection from a pointe toe upper to the instep and ankle.

A culmination of the maison’s legends, the Paris-New York 2018/19 Métiers d’art collection is an ongoing dialogue between the late Karl Lagerfeld and Virginie Viard, paying respect to the codes of artisanal finery that inspire creation.

Discover the full collection at Chanel.com.

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