Chanel’s Paris Fashion Week show featured an actual beach on the runway

The first images of Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2019 show at Paris Fashion Week have emerged online, showing a creative approach to the upcoming season.

The scene is set for #CHANELByTheSea — for the #CHANELSpringSummer 2019 show, Karl Lagerfeld imagined a sandy beachscape stretching out under azure-colored skies. #PFW pic.twitter.com/rTAQ1ODEQA

— CHANEL (@CHANEL) October 2, 2018

In true, over-the-top Chanel form, Karl Lagerfeld has imagined the scene for today’s show as a summer’s day at the seaside, and no detail has been spared; including the sandy beach and lapping waves. The images show a giant wide sandy beach surrounding the runway, with real waves flowing onto the scene. The space also features deck chairs for the guests, and a jetty, where Karl Lagerfeld appeared to stand at the show’s finale.

Chanel is forever a beautiful spectacle seriously pic.twitter.com/Tb3TIEPxHS

— Bryangohey (@bryangohey) October 2, 2018

With many of the first images of Chanel’s SS19 collection showing a distinctly beachy vibe, fans were waiting to see how the design house would direct its debut at Paris Fashion Week – and it did not disappoint.

Chanel SS19 preview. Source, @chanel

Social media has lit up in response to the show’s innovative creative direction, with many tweets and Instagram posts documenting the setting:

Karl Lagerfeld creates a @CHANEL beach, complete with lapping waves, indoors in the Grand Palais. #PFW pic.twitter.com/hslsfgSz1I

— @Booth (@Booth) October 2, 2018

At @CHANEL life is a beach. Literally. This season we have a giant white sand beach, complete with lapping waves on the front row’s toes, inside the Grand Palais. ?????? #ParisFashionWeek pic.twitter.com/KKEBMqwXs4

— Elizabeth Paton (@LizziePaton) October 2, 2018

And of course, there were some familiar faces in attendance:

Baewatch at @CHANEL with the one and only Pam Anderson. pic.twitter.com/mtxwuwWQpV

— The Cut (@TheCut) October 2, 2018

By all accounts, the show was a complete success, with many on social media praising the creativity of the setting and Lagerfeld’s attention to detail. Wolfgang Blau, President of Condé Nast International, noted that the show had been so enjoyable, that many attendees didn’t want to leave.

The @CHANEL show is long over now but people simply won‘t leave. Such a clever idea to let water do its own magic at this show. Playfulness and many happy faces in otherwise serious times.#PFW18 #pfw pic.twitter.com/fL1jYZqlP0

— Wolfgang Blau (@wblau) October 2, 2018