Chanel Cruise 2013 Collection Presented at Versailles

Marie Antoinette and the Fifth Element are as dramatically opposed as any fashion styles can be,  but Karl Lagerfeld brought the two together for the Chanel cruise 2013 collection.

Guests including Tilda Swinton, Alice Dellal and Vanessa Paradis gathered at the palace of Versailles to see an collection that paid tribute to the stunning setting.

True to form, though, the designer who thrives on the new did not just reference the past, presenting a show that Paris Vogue described on Twitter as ‘taking Marie-Antoinette to a garden rave party'.

 While the full skirts and ruffled sleeves of the garments were a nod to the 18th century, the models' severe bobs and monochrome creepers brought the looks back into the present

Though there were baroque-tinged 18th century-inspired ruffles, there was also bondage-inspired swimwear, sharp shoulders and tough mini-skirted ball gowns. Tthe most distinctive element was the models’ hair in a palette of baby blue, blush pink and mint green.

The pastel-hued Vidal Sassoon meets George Washington blunt bobs were reminiscent of Milla Jovovich’s character in the 1997 futuristic film the Fifth Element.

Worn as wigs over long ponytails, the sharp bobs were decorated with big bows and giant sunhats.

Make-up artist Peter Philips also painted tiny interlocking C tattoos on the models’ cheekbones, possibly made to look like Marie Antoinette’s signature beauty mark.

Overall, the collection read like Karl Lagerfeld's own answer to the age of austerity, which came in his wonderful visual oxymorons.

The designer sent his bejewelled and embellished models down the runway wearing white rubber soled creepers and fingerless leather gloves.

High collar Louis XV-style embellished vests were teamed with pastel pedal pushers; space-age silhouettes were decorated with intricate floral embroidery and delicate white lace; and alongside the overflowing ruffled ensembles walked cool-kid double denim and black leather outfits.

While there was nothing too 'Chanel' in the collection because, as he noted during his spring 2012 show, ‘there are already too many other people doing that style’, there were pieces recognisably within the house’s signature code.

A few boxy tweeds and drop waists were peppered throughout an opulent collection filled with the core prettiness that Chanel’s biggest fans still look for.

 Alice Dellal (top), who is the face of the Chanel Boy bag, Vanessa Paradis (middle) and actress Tilda Swinton (bottom) were all guests at the lavish event

 Designer Karl Lagerfeld was joined by his models as he stepped out at the end of the show