When it comes to creating runway spectacles, few can compete with Karl Lagerfeld, who has successfully staged Chanel shows at such glamorous locales as the Versailles garden, the long boardwalk along the Venice Lido and—perhaps most memorably—on the Great Wall of China for Fendi.
But Lagerfeld may top even himself on December 4th when Chanel will show its pre-fall collection against the backdrop of the dramatic Linlithgow Palace outside of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Originally home to the Stuarts, the palace, which stands roofless and decaying, is the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots.
According to WWD, the invitation—which was illustrated by Kaiser Karl himself—shows a sky glimpsed through the Palace's upper windows (in reality, though, the pre-fall collection, dubbed "Métiers d'Art," will go down the runway in darkness).
The tweedy textures and soft sweaters that are signature to the country will be reflected in the garments themselves; for the show, Chanel tapped Scottish cashmere company Barrie Knitwear for some of its luxe knitwear creations.
According to WWD, Lagerfeld is prepping for the show by hitting the books. “I’m studying everything about the history of Scotland,” he told WWD, “because I like to arrive informed.”
