Chanel likes nothing more than to conjure up the world of its iconic founder, Coco Chanel. That was seen in the short film shown ahead of the autumn/winter 2024 show in Paris in March and is also central to its Musical Clock Couture Workshop, a dazzling combination of clock, music box and automaton that is a showstopping centrepiece for its new Couture O’Clock collection . Her connection to fashion as both couture designer and seamstress, her 1930s atelier and apartment at 31 rue Cambon are brought to life in this remarkable, utterly distinctive piece.
Five ornately decorated miniature couture busts perform a dance to the tune of My Woman by Al Bowlly, one of Mademoiselle Chanel’s personal favourites. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Miniature couture busts perform a dance to the tune of Chanel’s Musical Clock Couture Workshop","url":"https://cdn.
i-scmp.com/sites/default/files/d8/images/canvas/2024/05/17/9825b6f0-9345-4000-923f-36e920a82505_5cf7ad54.jpg"} Miniature couture busts perform a dance to the tune of Chanel’s Musical Clock Couture Workshop Above them dangles a chandelier with diamonds in place of crystals, while beneath is a marquetry plinth made from 245 pieces of onyx, inspired by her upholstered sofa.
The time is displayed on a rotating tape measure, indicated by a fixed pairing of a baguette-cut diamond and a pearl. {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"ImageObject","caption":"Chanel’s Musical Clock Couture Workshop".
