Three weeks ago, this hit the internet and spawned dozens of discussions and videos. It wasn't just about Chanel, the focus was on Riley Keough, rock royalty and her performance of Prince's iconic song When Doves Cry.

The fusion of fashion, music, and heritage at Chanel's Spring/Summer 2025 show at the Grand Palais created more than just a runway moment – it sparked a conversation about reimagining spaces and redefining celebrity roles. In this week's deep dive, we explore how this historic venue transformed from Olympic sports arena to haute couture showcase, and how one unexpected performance brought multiple layers of meaning to an already extraordinary event.

From the architectural marvel of a custom birdcage to the thoughtful integration of brand history, this case study offers valuable insights for event planners at every level. Read on to discover how you can apply these lessons to create memorable experiences in any space, with any budget.

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Reimagining Spaces and Redefining Celebrity Roles

What I love about the event industry is no two events are ever the same. Even if you work with the same client, their annual event will change year to year. But sometimes, doing something that will top last year’s event can be challenging.

This is why I think Chanel's recent Spring/Summer 2025 show at the Grand Palais in Paris offers a masterclass in creative venue utilization and unexpected celebrity involvement. Let's deep dive and examine how this iconic fashion house transformed a historic space and surprised attendees with a unique performance, providing valuable lessons for all of us.

The Grand Palais: A Canvas for Creativity

Built for the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais has long been a symbol of architectural grandeur. Its massive glass roof and steel framework have made it a favorite venue for Chanel since 2005. However, the recent show took place just months after the venue hosted fencing and taekwondo events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

This quick turnaround from sporting arena to haute couture runway demonstrates the Grand Palais's versatility - a quality event planners should seek in their venues. The space that once echoed with the clash of swords and the cheers of Olympic crowds was transformed into a serene, ethereal setting for fashion's elite.

The Birdcage: Elevating Space Design

Chanel's creative team centered their show around a striking birdcage structure. This wasn't just a nod to fashion; it carried deep symbolism connected to Coco Chanel's personal history. The birdcage concept seamlessly integrated with the Grand Palais's soaring architecture, creating a harmonious blend of the venue's inherent grandeur and Chanel's brand identity.

For event planners, this serves as a reminder that successful space design goes beyond mere decoration. It's about creating a narrative that resonates with your brand or event theme while respecting and enhancing the venue's natural features.

Riley Keough: Redefining Celebrity Involvement

In a stunning convergence of fashion, music, and cultural legacy, Chanel ambassador Riley Keough took center stage not as a model, but as a performer. Perched on a swing within the birdcage, Keough delivered a haunting rendition of Prince's "When Doves Cry." This performance was notable on multiple levels, demonstrating how thoughtful celebrity involvement can create layers of meaning and cultural resonance.

A Musical Legacy Reimagined

As Elvis Presley's granddaughter, Keough's musical performance carried special significance. While she has primarily built her own identity as an acclaimed actress, this moment allowed her to acknowledge her musical heritage while maintaining her individual artistic path. For event planners, this illustrates how personal history can be subtly woven into performances, adding depth without overshadowing the present moment. The choice of "When Doves Cry" - a song outside the Elvis catalogue - perfectly balanced acknowledging her lineage while asserting her own artistic identity.

Historical Brand References

The staging of Keough on a swing within a birdcage wasn't just a striking visual element - it was a sophisticated callback to Chanel's own history. In 1991, French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis starred in an iconic Chanel perfume advertisement, where she portrayed a bird swinging in a cage while whistling. This thoughtful reference created a through-line in Chanel's brand storytelling, connecting past to present. By reimagining this memorable campaign moment with Keough, Chanel demonstrated how brands can refresh their historical elements for contemporary audiences.

Multi-Dimensional Talent

The performance also leveraged Keough's recently showcased singing talents from her role in Daisy Jones & The Six, adding yet another layer of relevance to her involvement. This strategic choice demonstrated how to maximize a celebrity's current momentum while creating something new and unexpected.

Lessons for Event Planners

Reimagining ANY Space

While not every event can be held in a venue as grand as the Palais, the principles of creative space utilization can be applied universally:

1. Identify Unique Features: Every space has distinctive elements. Whether it's high ceilings, unusual architecture, or even limitations like pillars, find ways to work around these features creatively. I can still remember the endless parade of events held in loft spaces cluttered by dozen of columns back in my New York days. If you have columns, stick an uplight with color under each one and turn off the ceiling lights to create a fairy tale atmosphere.

2. Create a Narrative: Like Chanel's birdcage, develop a central concept that ties your event theme to the space design. No budget for a giant birdcage? How about renting a series of different sized birdcages, and stacking them up to create a focal point in your event space? Or, scatter them around the room using them as candle holders?

3. Use Technology Wisely: An event doesn’t have to be laden with high tech gadgetry to be cool. Consider how lighting, sound, or even augmented reality can transform a space without physical alterations.

4. Think Beyond Convention: A conference room can become an immersive brand experience; a parking lot can transform into an outdoor cinema. The only limit is your imagination.

5. Balance Creativity and Functionality: Make sure your creative vision doesn't compromise the event's practical needs. Sometimes less is truly more.

Lessons in Celebrity Integration

This multifaceted moment offers several key insights for event planners:

1. Layer Cultural References: Look for opportunities to weave together different cultural touchpoints that resonate with your audience.

2. Honor History Subtly: Reference historical elements in fresh ways that feel modern rather than nostalgic.

3. Trust Your Talent: Allow celebrities to step outside their expected roles when it serves the event's narrative.

4. Create Brand Continuity: Find creative ways to connect your event to your brand's historical moments.

5. Build Multiple Meanings: Design moments that work on several levels, rewarding both casual observers and those who understand deeper references.

Chanel's Grand Palais show reminds us that with creative thinking, any space can be reimagined, and any participant can play an unexpected role. By applying these principles, event planners can elevate their events from ordinary to extraordinary, creating unforgettable experiences that are talked about long after the final guest has left.

As you plan your next event, challenge yourself: How can you reimagine your space? What unexpected elements can you introduce? Who could you bring in as your surprise guest? The answers to these questions might just be the key to creating your most successful event yet.

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