What does the mind conjure up when a garment is not seen but instead described in words? IMAGINING CHANEL is an exploration into how fashion is experienced through language. It explores the role of the viewers imagination in the creation of fashion to highlight that fashion is something that predominantly exists in our minds. Sociologist, Yaniya Kawamura says; 'Fashion does provide extra added values to clothing, but the additional elements exist only in peoples imaginations and beliefs. Fashion is not visual clothing but is the invisible elements included in clothing.' Imagining Chanel uses the descriptions of garments from the 1920s- 1960s Chanel archive at the Victoria and Albert Museum and thePowerhouse Museum as a tool to draw attention to the role the imagination plays within fashion and that fashion is not something that exists as dress only. The performance mimics the Chanel Salon Fashion Shows from the 1920s to explore a range of physical descriptions from the collection. The audience took part in the fashion spectacle to design their own clothing through the device of their imagination. To date this show has been performed in London and Sydney. Actors played the roles of a number of characters that were present during the Chanel Salon Fashion Shows in the 1920s. The host described the Chanel garments from the museum archive while the Mannequins gestured and posed as if they were wearing the garments described. To enhance the audiences experience a number of actors were planted in the audience. The actors made conversation with the audience and spoke about the quality of the sequined silk that the Mannequins were parading. Similarly to the Hans Christian Anderson Fairytale The Emperors New Clothes the actors aimed to expand the audiences imagination and encouraged them to question what they believed the Mannequins were wearing. All images and words are from this website so check it out - www.imaginingchanel.com/Info.html I had a lecture by the wonderful Adele the other day where she talked about some of her work. It was so awesome she even started striping at the beginning of the lecture. Adele has an amazing way of making you feel really comfortable within any space, even if you would normally be find yourself uncomfortable.