Slim trousers and crystals from Chanel at Paris Fashion Week A/W 2012

Karl Lagerfeld definitely took some risks at the Chanel A/W 2012 fashion show at Paris Fashion Week. Tweed sets we might expect to see in tailored skirt suits were rendered in skinny pants and long coats, either slouchy and cocoon shaped or belted above the natural waist. Like at Prada, the silhouette was length truncated above the ankle, making it tough for naturally petite women!

Do you miss the 1990s trend of dresses and skirts worn over trousers? Rejoice, Karl is bringing it back with a vengeance. Aside from this heavily layered silhouette, the key influence was
crystals (which we saw in London from Aminaka Wilmont) seen in texture, embellishment and those eyebrows.

This was also the most colourful Chanel show in recent years, with chiffon pieces and twisted scarves with swirly coloured prints, and chunky knitwear in patchwork jewel shades.

Though the way it was styled for the show was harsh and unflattering at times, individual pieces had legs and put a modern twist on Chanel classics.