One could only admire the opening looks, a series of classic Chanel suits completely re-worked with frayed elbows, and mini skirts, none more beautifully than that on la mode?s sexiest current model, Behati Prinsloo of Namibia.

But we were at a loss with the lumpy, pocketed, long skirts, even as a wardrobe option. And quite why Karl elected to send out nearly every model in hosiery with the back of the legs in black and the fronts in geometric patterns was unfathomable, especially as they added four kilograms to every gal.

However, there was a series of naval style chiffon dresses in black and white that would flatter any woman and take a few years off any one who wore them. And one had to love the faded torn mini jean skirts, the deliciously well cut battleship gray cocktails with pockets and an Aran sweater style dress that had cool and class in equal measure.

No one could fault the staging, where Karl threw together the world's prettiest merry go-round featuring all the Chanel icons in gold, camellia, padded leather purse, Coco hat and pearl necklaces, where the casting took their places at the finale.

“A great commercial collection. We can sell lots of these clothes,” enthused Eliana Piva De Albuquerque Tranchesi, president of Daslu, Latin America's greatest fashion department store, and huge Chanel retailer.

That said, it seems apparent that even the preternaturally energetic Lagerfeld cannot always come up with the goods, given a brutal travel schedule last fall. We remember being with him on his triumphal Great Wall of China Fendi Spectacle, followed by a lengthy architectural photo assignment for the Hong Kong Chanel Mobile Art #1 magazine, a copy of which was placed on every guest's seat, at a time when others designers were sitting working in Paris.

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