The show must go on! Fashion icons and A-listers set to descend on Manchester’s Northern Quarter for Chanel’s Métiers d’Art catwalk despite backlash and relentless mockery from locals
- Famous faces including Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour arrived at the event
- READ MORE: Anna Wintour puts on a united display with Edward Enninful on the red carpet after reports of a ‘power struggle’ between editors
Famous faces from around the world are set to descend upon an unassuming street in Manchester as French fashion house Chanel brings its Métiers d’Art show to the north of England amid uproar from locals.
Fashion icons including Vogue’s editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and The Beckhams are expected to watch the catwalk on Thomas Street in the Northern Quarter of the city this evening, which will go ahead despite several hitches along the way.
Ahead of the show, residents living on Thomas Street expressed their fury at being asked by the luxury designer to dim their lights and not walk out onto their balconies while models take to the catwalk.
Business owners on the street have also expressed concerns over profit after Chanel paid them to shut for the day – but they fear the reimbursement will not cover the losses they will suffer from missing out on a day’s custom.
One business, a sex shop on the street, has also taken the opportunity to mercilessly mock Chanel and one of the show’s rumoured attendees, Kim Kardashian – joking that they stock the infamous sex tape she made with her ex boyfriend.
The stage is set for The Chanel Metiers d’Art Fashion Show which will be held this evening in Manchester’s Northern Quarter
As backlash built against Chanel yesterday, one resident said: ‘We were told not to go on our balconies and to keep our curtains shut during the show. It was more or less: ‘We strongly suggest you don’t go on your balcony or if you have lights on in your home close the curtain.’
He said he began receiving letters about the fashion show around three weeks ago.
‘We’ve had a handful of letters which have been like a drip feed of information because they want to keep it on the down low even though everyone knows it’s a Chanel show’, he added.
The after-party will be held at the Victoria Baths in the city, as famous faces continue the evening
A sex shop close to the site where the Chanel show will take place has mocked Kim Kardashian and Chanel ahead of the show
Thomas Street in Manchester’s Northern Quarter is preparing for the show and has been closed for two weeks already
Locals have complained about the disruption in the area as works are carried out to prepare for the show
Within the letters he says event dates were given and residents were warned the area was set to become ‘very active’ from Monday, December 4.
When asked about the transformation of Thomas Street, he said: ‘It’s a lot of money spent on basically a glorified canopy.
‘If they leave it up that will be really good for the businesses during winter time and if there’s heating and stuff that would be great. I feel like it’s a little over zealous but it’s cool it’s not happening in London or somewhere like that.’
A manager of a bar on nearby High Street, said they have suffered reduced footfall due to people assuming the businesses in the area are shut in the lead up to the event.
Stars are set to descend on a street in Manchester this afternoon for a Chanel show (pictured: Chanel in Bond Street)
He said: ‘It looks closed unless you’re coming from Edge Street. We’ve had to change our entrance. On Saturday (December 3) I would say we were a couple of grand down.’
The manager said the business has been compensated for the days it has been told to close [Wednesday and Thursday] but worries the amount given may not cover the total losses incurred.
Just a few doors down from the runway sex shop Love Boutique put up a poster on their front door which mocks Kim Kardashian’s sex tape from 2007.
The sign reads: ‘Kim Kards homemade DVD sold here. Can you resist anything but temptation?
‘Sponsored by Chanelle. The parrot, not the brand’ – making a reference to a viral video from 2020 in which an African Grey Parrot called Chanelle went missing and her owner desperately called for her return.
The store advertises a range of ‘lotions,’ ‘potions’ and ‘poppers’ on the shop front.
Chanel’s show, which has previously been held in ‘fashion capital’ cities like London and Paris, is being held in Manchester this year due to its cultural links.
The Chanel website describes the city in the north west as, ‘one of the most effervescent cities of pop culture and an avant-garde one, whose bands, spanning all genres, have changed the history of music.’
The after party for the event will be held at the city’s Victorian Baths.
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