The sketch of a polar bear by Karl Lagerfeld on the invitation to his autumn-winter show for Chanel on Tuesday was already a big hint.

As a howling wind came over the sound system, screens were hoisted up to reveal gigantic ice floes, from which his models emerged enveloped in shaggy furs to keep out the Arctic cold and splashed through puddles of melted ice in knee high yeti boots.

With bouffant platinum blonde hair swept up, they snuggled into floor-sweeping snow white coats quilted like the Chanel signature handbag, with deep black fur hems, cuffs and stole collars.

Fur mini skirts, even fur pants, were paired with the house tweeds.

Grey flecked fur sprouted from the neck and the elbows of a long-line jacket in a knobbly tweed, which was swathed in fur from the waist down.

The wanton use of fur would have been shocking had any of it been real. But none of it was natural, Lagerfeld confirmed to AFP after the show.

“Fake fur used to be hideous, but there has been enormous progress. There is no reason not to use it nowadays.”

Lagerfeld, who “adores snow and ice”, said he had been inspired “by the winter we are having”, as Paris continued to shiver in glacial winds despite spring sunshine.

For those who are anti-fur even when it is fake, there were tweed ensembles with frayed edges and patchworks of chunky handknits, with touches borrowed from Scandanavian traditional costume, like the crimson braiding and cream fringes on a black day dress.

Delicate ice crystal jewellery filled necklines and clinked like icicles from the hems of cocktail skirts and frocks.

Source: AFPrelaxnews, 2010 – Photo: Patrick Kovarik