Re-creating a slice of Paris

Models represent Chanel's 2015 Metiers d'Art show at Beijing's 798 art zone. [Photo provided to China Daily]

If there is one genre, other than movies or theater, that makes audiences feel they are traversing time and space, it is fashion shows. Inspired by French actresses in Italian movies, Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel's artistic director, created a Parisian street in a film studio in Rome for Chanel's 2015 Metiers d'Art show last December. Half a year later, the French house chose Beijing to do it again.

The location was Beijing's 798 art zone. A huge iron tank typically used to store gas for factories separated the world into two parts: Outside was Beijing and inside was an entire Parisian neighborhood with a cafe, restaurant, baker, grocer, fountain, florist and cinema.

The models, dressed in black-lace dresses, long tweed jackets with embroidery, glinting metallic boucle dresses, or three-piece suits (a jacket, straight skirt and cigarette trousers) emerged from the street.

Celebrities, including US actress Kristen Stewart, who is the spokesperson for this collection; Chanel's Chinese ambassador, actress Zhou Xun; super model Du Juan; singers Chris Li Yuchun and Leah Dou Jingtong; and editorial director of Vogue China, Angelica Cheung, sat on the cafe terrace. Other guests sat along the "street" that the models walked through.