According to the conniver Karl Lagerfeld, the house of Chanel is an intrinsic part of French history. This was the message at least from his label's couture show in Paris. The show was staged around a marked set which recreated the famous Place Vendôme in the centre of the city. But on top of the column sat a statue not of Napoleon, but of Coco Chanel.

Lagerfeld is undeniably the Emperor of the grand gesture at the couture shows. The event was scheduled after nightfall because the designer wanted murk skies over the glass ceiling in the Grand Palais – all the better to show off his neon-outlined set, complete with perspex avenue lights and twinkling black floor.

Even if you don’t figure on yourself among Chanel handbags ‘ fans, you have to tolerate that there are a few things Karl & Co. do very well. Chiefly among them are the gorgeously intricate and often-belly wave bags that the firm releases every condition in its Unsettled Pieces capsule omnium gatherum, which is systematically what it sounds like – the superior of the finest from one of the over the moon marvellous’s biggest handbag brands.