Last week I posted about the exclusive “Las Vegas de Chanel” cosmetics collection launching to commemorate the redesign of the Chanel boutique at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. In addition to beauty products, Chanel is releasing the Exclusive Edition for Las Vegas Handbags – a collection of 5 (Chanel’s lucky number – this is Las Vegas after all!) handbags. All five of the bags have an element of sparkle since you can never overdo anything in Las Vegas. My favorite of the five is the gold bag – the dice charms are too cute! That bag was made for high rolling!
I’m not sure if the bags will be rolling out to other locations or if they are exclusive to the Bellagio or to all the Las Vegas shops. A little birdie did tell me that the Las Vegas de Chanel cosmetics will be available at the Bellagio exclusively for one month and then trickle out to other locations. Good news for all the readers who were asking about availability! If you are at the Bellagio, be sure to ask for Giselle and she’ll make you look beautiful!
Chanel is hosting Numéros Privés (“private numbers”), an eight-day invitation-only event/installation housed at the Wynn in Las Vegas. The event launched on Friday with a soiree and in true Chanel fashion, the company charted private jets to fly in important clients, friends of the brand, and celebrities including the darling Les Fidèles de Chanel. Entertainment included DJs Alexa Chung and Nick Cohen with a live performance by Imelda May and her band (retro rockabilly – video posted below if you’re not familiar).
Barbara Cirkva, Chanel’s fashion division president stated that the purpose of Numéros Privés is to “surprise and delight people” – and surprise and delight it did. With ten rooms all devoted to the signatures of the brand, the exhibition played on Coco Chanel’s lucky numbers 5, 2.55 and 31. WWD reported:
One room was filled with Chanel Bearbrick dolls and matching wallpaper, another displayed fine jewelry among sculpted topiaries. There was a recreation of Coco’s apartment at 31 Rue Cambon, and a digital room that decoded the making of the 2.55 handbag. It had quilted leather walls. But no room was as popular as the one filled with old-school carnival claw games, where mesmerized guests tried to grab little Chanel gift bags with a mechanical arm.
The event also coincides with the store re-opening at the Bellagio and with Chinese New Year when many international clients travel to Las Vegas.
I only have one question…where was MY invitation? It MUST have gotten lost in the mail:)
Source: WWD
Image of Rachel Zoe at carnival claw game: The Zoe Report
Chanel is big in Japan – and they know it. On March 21-23 Chanel will host three events: a presentation of the winter couture show, the opening a pop-up shop, and opening an exhibition devoted to Chanel’s iconic tweed jackets to showing images from Karl Lagefeld’s book “The Little Black Jacket,” and styled by Carine Roitfeld. WWD
The Manhattan Vintage show is February 3 & 4 in NYC – get your tickets to buy some great vintage Chanel. Manhattan Vintage
More for the new sport collection from Chanel including a Cane and Tennis Racket Set. Hypebeast
Anyone who has been to Las Vegas will tell you that town is not low on glitz or luxury. Between the neon lights and desert sand, the town is always painted in gold. The Bellagio Hotel is renovating the Chanel boutique in its Galleria and to commemorate this event, Peter Philips has created “gold-plated collection and strews stardust over polyester dreams.”
Las Vegas de Chanel includes four items: Lucky Stripes, a compact with four shades of sand and bronze to be worn on eyes, face or cheekbones; Rouge Coco Shine in Brilliant, a sheer golden lip shade; Le Crayon Lèvres Vegas Gold, a gold lip pencil; and it wouldn’t be a collection without a covetable Le Vernis in Gold Fingers.
The remodel should be completed by the end of this month. I’ll actually be staying at The Bellagio mid-February when I go to some trades hows in Las Vegas and I will definitely check out the new space. And I hope to get my fingers on Gold Fingers!
What’s better than skiing in the French Alps? Shopping at the Chanel Ephemeral Boutique après-ski in the heart of the Courchevel resort. The fashion house has selected a stripped-down, neutral space as its winter home, a blank canvas on which to project a new story of luxury: contemporary, authentic and elegant.
The entrance is dominated by four striking profiles of Mademoiselle Chanel in white ceramic, each towering over two metres high (which look similar to the ones at the Boon Ephemeral boutique). Inside, the proportions of the 180m² space are equally as arresting. Spanning 17 metres from the threshold to the far wall, the boutique extends along a narrow lengthwise perspective, accentuated by almost minimalist décor that nonetheless manages to steer clear of cold. The ambiance is warmed by the honeyed tones of sycamore flooring: a nod to the “Exclusifs de CHANEL” fragrance line.
The boutique basks in the contrasts of concrete, light boxes, black varnish, neutral hues and flashes of colour. The sheen of navy-blue panels on the walls calls to mind the aesthetic of Karl Lagerfeld’s 2011/12 Cruise collection, showcased here alongside the 2012 Spring- Summer collection. The volumes and depth of the space are enhanced by metal plating that wraps around the displays and traces a stark line along the entire length of the ceiling. A huge surprise is in store at the far end of the boutique: nestled at the adrenalin-fuelled base of the slopes, the premises afford majestic views over the entire Courchevel valley, flooded with the soft, warm glow of natural light.
Stepping over the threshold of the boutique, the visitor is effortlessly drawn into a space of unexpected levels displaying accessories from the collections along with an exceptional array of Fine Jewellery and Watchmaking pieces. Meanwhile, the Ready-to-Wear collection beckons from an island of matte-black corrugated metal. The nearby fitting rooms – hung with yellow to recall the palette of the 2011/12 Cruise collection, and iconic CHANEL burgundy – intrude in a cozy lounge installed with iPad® inviting the visitor to delve deeper into the world of CHANEL, explore the collections, watch fashion shows and read up on the latest Chanel News. Not much of a surprise there since we know Karl loves the iPad!
Chanel’s latest ephemeral boutique is housed at Boon, a concept shop in Korea. Now through November 20, each floor of the shop will explore one of Chanel’s signature codes. From Place Vendôme to Chanel’s apartment some of the floor are inspired by places close to Coco Chanel. The quilted and chain room highlights accessories and craftsmanship while another room is made entirely of porcelain. After you’ve checked out each floor you can visit the screening room to sit down and watch Karl Lagerfeld’s recent Chanel films.
This ephemeral shop sounds so beautiful I wish I could see it. Are any of you from Seoul or will be in Seoul? Please let me know if you check it out – would love to hear about it!
Last week we mentioned that Chanel released a limited edition bag to commemorate the opening of its Brisbane store. The Brisbane bag is made from “Pacific Ocean blue calfskin, taking inspiration from the city’s proximity to the ocean” and has a camellia on it. It’s so lovely! Have any of you ladies purchased the bag or visited the new boutique? If so, send in your pics!
You can play dress up with real Chanel clothing – virtually that is. Online game i-Dress Up now offers a closet of authentic Chanel apparel and accessories that you can “dress up” in.
CNN highlighted “fashion architecture” in a piece on architecture as an extension of the brand experience and the Chanel Ginza store in Tokyo designed by Peter Marino + Associates Architects was considered a standout example.
Elizabeth Olsen - Image Source Just Jared
According to the NY Times, Karl Lagerfeld photographed Elizabeth Olsen for a coffee table book. No word about this project but here is what she said about working with Uncle Karl: “The Chanel designer had been shooting her for a coffee table book, and the photo session had gone long. She modeled an oversize classic Chanel tweed jacket for him. “I didn’t get to keep it,” she said, laughing as she pointed to her own nondescript sweater and T-shirt.”
Karl Lagerfeld can add “gallery booth designer” to his resume – he’s designed Zurich’s Gmurzynska Gallery’s booth for the FIAC in Paris from October 20 to 23. Hollywood Reporter
London posh hotel Sofitel St. James renovated their brasserie and is unveiling The Balcon on October 17th. The St. James bar in The Balcon is “inspired by the interiors of Coco Chanel’s 1920’s Paris apartment at 55 Rue Cambon and highlights will include vintage cocktails from antique recipe books. There will also be a Champagne Angel on hand to provide expert advice.” Do you see the curved staircase and banister? I’ll toast to that! The Handbook
Here’s a Karlism for you – Karl Lagerfeld takes his time with the models he chooses to photograph. He stated: “I do a lot of portraits. I really take time to choose my models. I don’t think one should ever be a model guzzler.” ContactMusic
Just in time for winter, you can get a printed cashmere scarf with Karl Lagerfeld’s face on it. NY Mag – The Cut
Chanel ranked #15 on a British survey of the Top 20 “cool brands”. Huffington Post
Beau Dunn’s mom was a model and she has ridiculous vintage Chanel from the 80′s. I hate her. I’m not afraid to say it…
On a lighter note, check out the backstage behind-the-scenes of the recent Chanel Spring 2012 Ready-to-Wear show…
