By Hannah J Davies
For its Métiers d'Art Paris-Edimbourg show in December, iconic Parisian label Chanel created overblown cuffs, with the house's signature pearls sitting alongside tartan, tweed and chains for a Scottish heritage feel. A trip into the archives reveals that this isn't the first time that the Gallic fashion house has turned Gaelic, however.
Featuring metal, stones, enamel and tartan, this overblown tartan cuff from the pre-Fall 2013 Paris-Edimbourg collection is bang on trend for Autumn/Winter 2013-2014. Tartan features in the Vogue Paris London special this month, with Georgia May Jagger striking a pose in heavy plaids and tartan wools for the Miss Jagger jewellery editorial, and the traditional Scottish motif also provided a starting point for Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld's resort collection at the Métiers d'Art Paris-Edimbourg show back in December. Held at historic Linlithgow Palace just outside of the Scottish capital, guests enjoyed treats including luxurious malt whisky and haggis as models including Scot Stella Tennant took to the catwalk. The location was hardly a surprise to fans of the brand - the Paris fashion house's recent acquisition of Highlands-based heritage cashmere maker Barrie Knitwear is just the latest chapter in a longstanding relationship with Scottish textiles. Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel first discovered Scotland with the Duke of Westminster, and according to journalist and Chanel biographer Justine Picardie, the French designer created the decor for his home at Rosehall House. Inspired by the artisanship she saw in the country, she then went on to create her signature tweed jackets and knit cardigans. The cuff is a symbol of the brand's long-standing Gaelic influences, looking to classic house motifs with its pearl, chain and tweed detailing. More is most definitely more next season at Chanel - all you need now is an invitation to a Burns Night supper up in the Highlands, perhaps from Mr Lagerfeld himself.
Above: the cuff on the Chanel catwalk.