Chanel Set Sail Aboard a Giant Ship for Its 2019 Cruise Show

On Thursday, Chanel set sail aboard a life-size mock ship in Paris to present its Cruise 2019 collection, with Karl Lagerfeld as its literal creative helm. The designer was up to his usual tricks: He placed a rather large method of transport in the middle of the Grand Palais and invited show-goers to journey with him to a faraway land inhabited by the French fashion house's classic tweeds and pastel suits. This time, the runway travelled by water under the stars in a giant vessel, named "La Pausa," after Coco Chanel's summer villa on the French Riviera. 

Guests were treated to the full cruise experience — sans endless booze, spring breakers and midnight buffets, of course. The invites were even fashioned after boarding passes.

Aboard the ship and seated in the front row were Chanel muses Margot Robbie, Lily-Rose Depp and Kristen Stewart, who looked glamorous and far from shipwrecked in a plunging sparkly tuxedo dress. 

A crew of models, including Gigi and Bella Hadid, exhibited Lagerfeld's nautical-themed vacation range: The voyage was filled with a selection of multicolored boucle suits, sensible white rubber Mary Janes, terrycloth caps and navy and pastel-colored stripes. 

The accessories took hints from the high seas and were inspired by floatation devices — see lifesaver bag below. 

The bearded captain concluded the show by taking a bow with fashion studio director Virginie Viard by his side.  

Chanel's very literal Cruise 2019 presentation concluded with an afterparty on the lido deck. 

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