Front Row With Willow Smith at Chanel

Willow Smith poses at Chanel. (Photo: Getty Images)

“The Chanel show is like coming home,” Caroline de Maigret said before this morning’s runway. “It is like family.”

So maybe it’s no surprise that several actual families were part of the spectacle. Kris Jenner sat front row while Kendall wore Look 51; sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid modeled, too. So did Brad and Hudson Kroenig, the father-and-son pair whom designer Karl Lagerfeld considers his own kids. Meanwhile, Karl’s beloved cat/spirit animal Choupette made an appearance via accessory: Her image was printed, for the first time, on several handbags.

Watching it all were Jada Pinkett Smith and her daughter, Willow. (Chicest mommy-and-me date ever?) They perched across the row from Pharrell and Stella Tennant, wearing pieces from next season and looking more royal than most members of actual monarchies. We sneaked past the photographers and bodyguards (so many bodyguards!) for a quick chat with the fascinating Hollywood princess, who turned 15 on Halloween.

Yahoo Style: Hey, Willow! What did you think of the collection?
Willow Smith: It was a beautiful show. It was so amazing. All the clothes are so artistically crafted, and you can tell there’s so much care taken behind every garment.

So it’s different from seeing them online?
Totally. To see them all lined up like that, you really get a scope of how much hard work and talent and magic go into the making of the collection. The clothes go by so fast that you have to stop and remember what art and skill go into every single piece. I hope I get to see them again backstage, you know?

Willow Smith and Karl Lagerfeld hang out backstage at Chanel. (Photo: Getty Images)

Are you headed back there to see Karl Lagerfeld?
Yeah. If you come to Chanel, you have to say hi to Karl, right? It’s like, how you can’t leave the party without saying “thank you” to the hosts? And Karl is such a beautiful person. I mean, I’m in awe whenever I talk to him.

Do you remember the first time you met Karl?
The first time I met him was for V Magazine [in 2014]. He photographed me in Paris. I remember coming up to him, and he hugged me. He looks at me and he goes, “Hello. You look like you come from Egypt.”

Wow.
Yeah! I mean, I live in [Los Angeles]. But it just elated my heart and it made me feel so amazing. Because I was like, “Dang, Karl Lagerfeld is talking to me!” It’s this iconic man in fashion and he’s telling me I look Egyptian.

Egyptians worshipped cats. So does Karl. Maybe his cat, Choupette, is a goddess.
Maybe! Why not? Animals can have really powerful spirits.

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