When it comes to far and incredible destinations, no one can quite top Chanel and its cruise collections. There has been Seoul, Dubai, Singapore, and this time Karl Lagerfield has chosen Cuba as the venue for Chanel´s latest extravaganza, making this runaway show a historic event.

In 35-degree Celsius heat and what felt like 100 per cent humidity, the evening began with 170 iconic vintage and colorful cars from Cadillacs to Chevrolets to transport guests to El Paseo Del Prado,  the chosen show venue in central Havana. One of the city’s most emblematic thoroughfares, and the divididing line between Old and New Havana who was redesigned in 1928 at the request of the Cuban president by French landscape architect, Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier. The street is decorated with eight bronze lions by French sculptor, Jean Puiforcat, and Cuban sculptor, Juan Comas, which perfectly illustrates the ties between France and Cuba, hardly a more fitting venue for a Chanel show in Cuba.

Aside from the scenery, that was incredible perfect, highs will no doubt include a handful of A-listers like Gisele Bundchen, Tilda Swinton, Vanessa Paradis, Carine Roitfeld, Vin Diesel, who is in Havana filming the The Fast and The Furious 8, and Fidel Castro´s grandson, who were in attendance. Interestingly, Lagerfeld presented his line wearing a jacket designed by Hedi Slimane, who it’s rumored that is going to be his heir, from Saint Laurent’s Spring 2016 Men’s collection. We just have to wait and see.

Another rumor, that was being whisper in Cuba a few weeks before the show, was that Chanel was bringing in Wi-Fi, but unfortunately it didn´t. If Karl Lagerfield can pull a show like this in the other side of the world, why not bringing in Wi-Fi, he´s definitely the right guy to make it?!? So we can totally understand the rumors 😉

Before the show, guests were taken to a tour of old Havana town; a visit to a cigar factory and to Ernest Hemingway’s house hidden at the end of a mango tree-lined driveway in the poorer, southern suburbs; and dinner at Atelier, the very same restaurant that Michelle Obama and her daughters dined at during the president’s historic visit in March.

Stella Tennant  have opened the show, dressed in boyish monochrome pinstripe trousers, brogues and a black tailored blazer topped with a straw trilby.

Maria Carla Boscono, Lindsey Wixson, Soo Joo Park and some local girls who were cast as models, all took the catwalk wearing tiered ballerina skirts,  Che Guevara-style berets rendered in black sequins, retro-looking T-shirts emblazoned with “Coco Cuba” layered under tweed suits, and one of our favorites, a print of juicy-coloured Cadillacs worked into silk maxi dresses, PJ’s and dressing gowns, and Cohiba-cigar-smoking male models. Other highlights included khaki army jackets with tweed backs, tobacco sweater dressing, and black crochet dresses and backpacks, and at the end sequin mini dresses in spearmint, yellow, and peach matched the cars were guests arrived in.

For the show’s grand finale a troop of drummers moved through the streets, turning the catwalk into a giant dance party. Models invited fashion show attendees to join them in the festivities as the locals watched on from the balconies of their houses lining the street.

After the show Chanel’s guests were invited to the after-party held at the Plaza de la Catedral and join Karl himself for a tango under the black sky. Only Chanel! We can´t wait for the next big show 😉