Chanel goes to Havana

Chanel lands in Cuba. After Obama and the Rolling Stones the island continues its opening towards the West, hosting the 2017 Cruise collection of the French House, anticipated by the exhibition Obra en Proceso/Work in Progress, that from April 28 to May 12, 2016 will showcase over 200 photographs taken by Karl Lagerfeld.

Here's everything you need to know about this historic event.

Where.

At sunset, Paseo del Prado in Havana. The elegant avenue that separates the Old Havana from the center of the capital, built in 1772 and renovated in 1928 by Jean-Claude Nicolas Forestier. For UNESCO this location with a strong visual impact thanks to its colonial buildings is one of the World Heritage sites.

Who.

On the catwalk 50 international top models, including Stella Tennant, Mariacarla Boscono, Kendall Jenner, Lindsey Wixson and Soo Joo Park, alternate with 50 local beauties selected these days through a long street casting at the Hotel Nacional in Havana. Inevitable Brad Kroenig, the model favored by Karl Kaiser, accompanied by his 7 years old son Hudson.

In the front row: Vin Diesel, Alice Dellal, Vanessa Paradis, Tilda Swinton, Anna Dello Russo, Suzy Menkes, Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, a beautiful Gisele Bündchen with beret and fan. And above all Cubans on the balconies overlooking the avenue of mansions.

What.

A rainbow made of vintage cars marks the beginning of the event, bringing Lagerfeld and his staff on the show set, while rumberos playing the conga and models dancing mark its end.

The cultural richness of Cuba, its vibrant colors, the atmosphere in the balance between joy and decadence, characters who enlivened the island before the revolution as Ava Gardner, Marlene Dietrich, Frank Sinatra and Ernest Hemingway are brought back to life thanks to the German designer through a collection which tells the story of an island full of charm.

There are short dresses, maxi dresses with car patterns, pencil skirts in pastel tones, fanned skirts, jackets and shirts with a military echo, souvenir t-shirts with the logo "Viva Coco Libre!" and the inevitable tweed jackets . Clear is the homage to Cuban men style and 50s elements with wide high-waisted trousers, shirts with oversized collars, panama hats, Che Guevara berets.

Behind the scenes.

Any curiosity? Chanel has given a travel set consisting of moisturisers, soothing masks, quilted cover eye mask, melatonin, mosquito protection and a white fan to all its guests. Perhaps to balance the request not to embark luggage, opting instead for hand luggage to avoid waiting too long at the airport. During the fitting, King Karl tried to survive the hot Cuban weather with a mini fan attached to his phone.

The question.

Is the Chanel Cruise Cuba Karl Lagerfeld latest endeavour for the brand? We don't know yet, but the fact that the designer wore a Saint Laurent by Hedi Slimane jacket, according to many his possible successor at Chanel, increases the rumours about it.