Giovanni Giannoni/WWD/REX ShutterstockKarl Lagerfeld has decreed there's a new supermodel in the mix, and nope it's not Gigi; it's Bella Hadid.
The 19-year-old mounted the pop-up Chanel runway in Rome last night for the Métiers d'Art 2015/2016 show, rocking two of the famed French house's covetable looks. Donning a teased bouffant good enough to make Brigitte Bardot blush, Bella's look conveyed a deeply dramatic—daresay gothic—glamour with a sleepy smoky eye and black lace and leather mixes.
Lagerfeld's traveling Métiers d'Art presentation always proves one of the biggest fashion extravaganzas of the year, with high-profile models, including Lara Stone, performing on even more spectacular stages (this is Chanel; there are no plain-Jane runway shows here).
For this latest installment, Lagerfeld drew upon his deep rooted history with Rome (Note: it's where he made his designer debut back in 1963) coupled with his admiration for classic Italian films and even Miss Coco Chanel's own life (naturally), making Cinecittà, Italy's "Hollywood on the Tiber" the only real choice for a backdrop.
However, we already knew the theme of the film-inspired show last night after sneaking a peek at Chanel muse Kristen Stewart's accompanying short film, "Once and Forever," in which she plays a young Chanel. And while we were more than pleased with the behind-the-scenes clips, the full-length film, which also premiered yesterday, is even more compelling than we'd imagined possible.
But let's circle back to Bella now. This runway show is without question her crowing moment as a model, and is an honor that isn't bestowed lightly. And if you have your doubts, just think back to the last model Lagerfeld promoted to the super ranks and her accompanying astronomical success: Kendall Jenner.