The Brompton Road facade of Harrods, where Chanel has transformed the store’s shop windows
The Brompton Road facade of Harrods, where Chanel has transformed the store’s shop windows..
(Image credit: Chanel)

Karl Lagerfeld doesn't do things in halves. Which is why when his team at Chanel collaborated with Harrods, the results - unveiled today - were eye-popping to say the least. Not content with filling the entire stretch of window displays on the store's Brompton Road façade with powerful scenes of its A/W 2011 collection, featuring an enchanted bestiary and whimsical French fairy tale imagery, Chanel has put its stamp on the storefront like you would on a turreted castle, embellishing it with a series of branded flags. And that's just what you see on the outside.

Stepping inside the store, it's hard to know which part of Chanel's adventure requires attention first. On the ground floor, the brand has created a temporary 'misty garden' fashion boutique, lined with white and black walls embossed with lions' heads, and filled with every sartorial item imaginable - including the classic Harrods bag, which has been given a Chanel makeover.

Over in the beauty department, a pink make-up counter - complete with the pop-up photo booth seen in the A/W 2011 campaign and oversized Chanel perfume bottles - houses the Knightsbridge Collection, a limited-edition make-up range created by Peter Phillips, creative director of Chanel make-up.

Meanwhile, on the third floor, a dramatic 350 sq m installation, 'Une Promenade', is an Alice-in-Wonderland-style journey into the world of Coco Chanel. Visitors enter through a curtain of oversized white pearls into a monochrome camellia garden setting, where the exhibition revolves around six different rooms: the 2.55, where visitors walk into a padded creation of the brand's iconic bag to discover the production process of the bag; the tweed room, inspired by Chanel's jacket fabric of choice; an enchanted children's bedroom scene filled with dolls and toys; a Haute Couture room, reconstructed as Gabrielle Chanel's apartment at 31 rue Cambon; the library space in Lagerfeld's studio 7L, and finally a room dedicated to Chanel symbols, including its Number 5 perfume bottle.

The new windows incorporate Karl Lagerfeld's recent A/W 2011 collection for Chanel

The new windows incorporate Karl Lagerfeld's recent A/W 2011 collection for Chanel

(Image credit: Chanel)

Styled to reflect a enchanted woodland fairy tale scenes

... styled to reflect a enchanted woodland fairy tale scenes

(Image credit: Chanel)

This is the first time in Harrods history that all front-facing windows have been taken up by one brand

This is the first time in Harrods history that all front-facing windows have been taken up by one brand

(Image credit: Chanel)

A theatrical mise en scène with Chanel's mythical creatures

A theatrical mise en scène with Chanel's mythical creatures

(Image credit: Chanel)

Close-up of a smaller Chanel accessories window for Harrods

Close-up of a smaller Chanel accessories window for Harrods

(Image credit: Chanel)

Chanel have put its stamp on the storefront like you would a turreted castle and embellished it with flags

Chanel have put its stamp on the storefront like you would a turreted castle and embellished it with flags...

(Image credit: Chanel)

Made its mark on the bus stop outside Harrods

... and even made its mark on the bus stop outside Harrods

(Image credit: Chanel)

The Chanel's World map at an entrance-way in Harrods

The Chanel's World map at an entrance-way in Harrods

(Image credit: Chanel)

The brand's has created a temporary 'misty garden' fashion boutique on the ground floor.

The brand's has created a temporary 'misty garden' fashion boutique on the ground floor...

(Image credit: Chanel)

Lined with white and black walls embossed with lions' heads

... lined with white and black walls embossed with lions' heads

(Image credit: Chanel)

Across the room, is Chanel's pop-up accessories stand

Across the room, is Chanel's pop-up accessories stand

(Image credit: Chanel)

The infamous Harrods bag, with an added Chanel touch

The infamous Harrods bag, with an added Chanel touch

(Image credit: Chanel)

The ephemeral beauty bar, lined with pink shelves and dressed with displays of Chanel perfume bottles

The ephemeral beauty bar, lined with pink shelves and dressed with displays of Chanel perfume bottles...

(Image credit: Chanel)

Sits next to the pop-up photo booth - perfect for customers wanting to recreate the A/W 2011 campaign

... sits next to the pop-up photo booth - perfect for customers wanting to recreate the A/W 2011 campaign

(Image credit: Chanel)

The Knightsbridge Collection, created especially by Chanel make-up creative director Peter Philips

The Knightsbridge Collection, created especially by Chanel make-up creative director Peter Philips

(Image credit: Chanel)

Even the lifts and lobbies have had the Chanel makeover

Even the lifts and lobbies have had the Chanel makeover

(Image credit: Chanel)

The pearl curtain entrance to the 'Une Promenade' exhibition on the third floor

The pearl curtain entrance to the 'Une Promenade' exhibition on the third floor

(Image credit: Chanel)

A reconstruction of the monochrome camellia garden setting - featured in the Chanel S/S 2011 runway show - waits

... where a reconstruction of the monochrome camellia garden setting - featured in the Chanel S/S 2011 runway show - waits

(Image credit: Chanel)

Clusters of Chanel fine jewellery, encased in a foliage-filled display box, sit in a corner of the camellia garden

Clusters of Chanel fine jewellery, encased in a foliage-filled display box, sit in a corner of the camellia garden

(Image credit: Chanel)

The 2.55 room - a dream for anyone wanting to live in a Chanel bag

The 2.55 room - a dream for anyone wanting to live in a Chanel bag

(Image credit: Chanel)

Digital displays showing stages in the making of the iconic 2.55 bag

Digital displays showing stages in the making of the iconic 2.55 bag

(Image credit: Chanel)

The large dolls house in the children's bedroom, featuring Chanel dolls created through the years

The large dolls house in the children's bedroom, featuring Chanel dolls created through the years

(Image credit: Chanel)

The Harrods bear, customised by Chanel - sadly, not for sale

The Harrods bear, customised by Chanel - sadly, not for sale

(Image credit: Chanel)

Inside the Haute Couture room - a reconstruction of Gabrielle Chanel's apartment in 31 rue Cambon

Inside the Haute Couture room - a reconstruction of Gabrielle Chanel's apartment in 31 rue Cambon...

(Image credit: Chanel)

The swirling wall of tall mirrors seen in staircase entrance of 31 rue Cambon

... featuring the swirling wall of tall mirrors seen in staircase entrance of 31 rue Cambon

(Image credit: Chanel)

An oversized version of the boxes used to package creations purchased by Haute Couture clients

An oversized version of the boxes used to package creations purchased by Haute Couture clients

(Image credit: Chanel)

Inside the tweed room - an homage to Chanel's jacket fabric of choice

Inside the tweed room - an homage to Chanel's jacket fabric of choice

(Image credit: Chanel)

The library in Karl Lagerfeld's studio 7L, reprinted as wallpaper, featuring an almost holographic Karl Lagerfeld

The library in Karl Lagerfeld's studio 7L, reprinted as wallpaper, featuring an almost holographic Karl Lagerfeld

(Image credit: press)

A larger-than-life jacket detail sits next to the heavyweight version of the 2.55

A larger-than-life jacket detail sits next to the heavyweight version of the 2.55

(Image credit: Chanel)

A combination of Noº5 advertisments from over the years is screened within a giant bottle in the pop art room

A combination of Noº5 advertisments from over the years is screened within a giant bottle in the pop art room

(Image credit: press)

The Chanel flags lit up in the evening on Brompton Road

The Chanel flags lit up in the evening on Brompton Road

(Image credit: Chanel)

ADDRESS

Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London SW1X 7XL

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