“For the French, Marseille is the capital of the Mediterranean,” said Bruno Pavlovsky, president of fashion at Chanel, in an interview before the show. “It’s the second biggest city [in France] and it’s so different from Paris – probably because of the sea, but also because of so many communities and cultures.

For the Marseille exhibition, Chanel worked with a series of creators hailing from countries such as Venezuela and Ivory Coast, some of them based in the French city.

A long-time supporter of dance, Chanel also collaborated with the Ballet National de Marseille – and dancer and friend of the house, Marion Barbeau – for a short video directed by Ladj Ly filmed at city landmarks such as the Vieux Port and the Cité Radieuse.

The collection reflected the seaside vibe of Marseille with fish, nets and shell motifs drawn in a childlike pattern; prim-and-proper white lace dresses; and plenty of swimwear. The looks were worn with foam and terry-cloth platform flip-flops or patent leather men’s slippers.

“I was inspired by the codes of lifestyle, of everyday life and by all the things that invite movement. The sea and the wind made me want to play with wetsuits,” said creative director Virginie Viard in the collection notes.

While Chanel’s haute couture and Métiers d’Art collections always stand out for their intricate workmanship and need to be seen up close to truly appreciate them, the cruise range is more about creating a vibe and offering customer-friendly pieces that please both the label’s loyal customers and are able to attract new and younger ones.

As Viard put it in the show notes, this collection was meant as “a breath of fresh air” – and Marseille was the perfect backdrop for this lighthearted and energetic outing.