Between Parties and Revolution. Coco Cuba!

The standout pieces from Chanel's 2016-17 Cruise Collection are the modern, uninhibited silhouettes that mix Parisian boldness with an exotic mood. Designer Karl Lagerfeld envisioned a collection that captures the essence of Cuban culture—its vibrant colors, cheerful music, bright scenery, and radiant smiles—expressed through boyish, sophisticated charm.

Like the rhythm of a dance, iconic bags—from banana bags and backpacks to totes, bucket bags, and minaudières—emerge one after another. A rich palette of colors, including khaki, red, navy, royal blue, green, pink, coral, and orange, intermingles. From sequined embroidery to macramé fringe, the collection captivates with its wide range of items, spanning from pop to ultimate chic, and from simple to sophisticated.

Flap bags, multicolor backpacks, oversized backpacks, and Cuban-style hand-knitted macramé bags express a blend of simplicity and exuberance, embodying joie de vivre.

Furthermore, flap bags adorned with sequin embroidery feature the message “Coco Cuba”! This playful touch of sequins also appears on casual banana bags and canvas pieces embellished with pin badges.

Boyish and Sophisticated Military Casual

This collection prominently features military fabrics. Backpacks, bucket bags, two-way totes, shoulder bags, and chevron patchwork with fringe are presented. This fabric is also used for tote bags, with pockets inspired by the traditional Cuban shirt, the "Guayabera," which serves as a recurring theme throughout the collection.

The backpack, adorned with feminine and elegant ornaments, is embroidered with epaulets trimmed in sequins and golden and white sequins inspired by the Cuban flag colors. It features an orange tweed with a silhouette of Coco Chanel adorned with a fancy pearl necklace, creating a truly glamorous piece. Each of these embroideries and prints is handcrafted, requiring one to three days of meticulous work per item.

The handles of the quilted bucket bag are embellished with large gold metal Creole earrings, popular among Cuban women, while the shoulder strap is military-inspired. The bag features a moon shape and metal attachments inspired by hammocks, symbolizing the serene Cuban lifestyle.

Layered fabrics, along with ribbon-woven tweed and fringe by Lesage, blend seamlessly with the collection's color palette. The iconic slogan "Viva Coco Cuba libre!" printed on T-shirts and canvas clutch bags echoes the synergy between ready-to-wear and costume jewelry.

For evening wear, motifs of cigars, a quintessential Cuban symbol, transform cigar boxes into contemporary minaudières. Furthermore, tweed handbags are covered with thin wooden veneers and secured with thin leather-woven chains, completing the silhouette of this cruise collection—described as "masculine yet feminine, supremely chic, and a little bit sassy."

The 2016-17 Cruise Collection is available at Chanel boutiques.