The infamous kidult twins Dee & Ricky just released their newest limited edition Lego piece – the Chanel lipstick. These are not for wearing – not on your lips anyway. The duo has found fame by making Lego accessories ranging from hearts, music notes, crosses and even cigarettes. I must say this is my favorite by far! Limited to only 50 pieces, you can get yours by emailing the twins at INFO@DEEANDRICKY.COM.
Over the weekend Chanel invited some fancy-pants people out to Montauk to celebrate the release of the lastest J12 Marine men’s watch. Laird Hamilton, the new brand ambassador, is a professional surfer and married to professional volley ball player Gabrielle Reece. “Like CHANEL’s newest brand ambassador, Laird Hamilton, CHANEL has allowed themselves to be swept away by the beauty of the waves, and has incorporated these elements into the design of the J12 Marine, the newest addition to CHANEL’s fine timepiece collection.”
The guests ““…dined on fresh seafood at wooden tables and then gathered around the fire pit for cocktails and smores.” Can we say jealous? And how about the surf boards? I’ve always been to scared to try surfing but a Chanel surf board can easily sway me…
The event looks like it was awesome and though you may not think of Chanel when you think of surfing, Chanel always manages to have that magic touch that makes just about anything seem like it was meant to be paired with Chanel. My only question is, where was my invitation to this? 
Image Source: NOTCOT
“Fashion passes, style remains.”
Happy Birthday Mademoiselle Chanel! Your memory and style endure. We miss you!
In her latest role, actress Anna Mouglalis plays Coco Chanel in Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. AnOther Magazine asked her what she thought of playing the style icon. She states:
I have been working for Chanel for eight years now, so in an unconscious way I have been gathering information – I was not expecting that one day somebody would offer me the chance to embody Chanel.
Read the full interview on AnOther Magazine.
Chanel is introducing a new fragrance for men this fall called Bleu, a scent created by Chanel’s “nose” Jacques Polge. Chanel describes the scent as:
The provocative fragrance opens with an intriguing wave of citrus fruits, mingled with the airy scent of a deep blue sea. Next, the zest of Grapefruit punctuates, followed by the tang of Peppermint, Pink Pepper and Nutmeg. Finally, in this initial impression, a touch of Ginger heightens the sharpness of the citrus.
As you may recall, earlier in the year we let you know that Martin Scorcese had directed an advertising film starring French actor Gaspard Ulliel – it was for this fragrance. The advertising film Bleu de Chanel will be released later in August and Bleu will hit shelves this Fall.
Music is a big part of creating ambiance and I love the tunes at Chanel because I’m always introduced to something new. Here are the tunes that filled the air of the Grand Palais in Paris:
Timothy Andres
“Antennae”, Shy and Mighty
Nonesuch Records 2010
Lou Reed and John Cale
“Small Town”, Songs For Drella
Sire/Warner Records 1990
Chilly Gonzales
“Never Stop (Piano-Pella)”
Phantasy Sound Limited 2010
Gonzales
“Knight Moves”, Ivory Tower
Arts & Crafts 2010
Image from Chanel News
I didn’t think that Karl could outdo a giant glacier as the centerpiece for a runway show – but somehow he did. On Tuesday, Chanel unveiled its Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais in Paris with an “8-ton, 40-foot-tall golden lion, [with] its paw perched on an enormous pearl” serving as the backdrop. (WWD).
The inspiration for the lion is clear – born on August 19th, Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel was a Leo. She loved lions and they surfaced everywhere from her apartment decor, buttons and even her gravestone. The centerpiece for the haute couture runway show is a replica of a marble sculpture from her infamous apartment at 31 Rue Cambon. “Gabrielle Chanel surrounded herself with models of lions in wood, silver, bronze or alabaster…[and t]he lion became a timeless biographical seal on numerous of her creations.” (Chanel News).
Chanel herself, felt a close affinity with lions: “August 19th is my birthday. I was born under the sign of Leo. I am a Leo and, like a lion, I use my claws to prevent people from doing me harm, but, believe me, I suffer more from scratching than from being scratched.”
The lion inspired some of her creations and lion heads were commonly found embossed on the buttons of her iconic tweed suits.
Indeed, Mlle. Chanel’s love for lions are eternal – her gravestone has 5 lion heads carved onto it.
Not only is Karl Lagerfeld an ingenious designer, he truly respects and understands the woman that Coco Chanel was. He stays true to what inspired her and he gives it all a modern twist. Of course, he is one of the few people in the world who has access to her apartments and archives (what I would do to be a fly on the wall!). I hope that his successor will have the same respect for Chanel’s vision.
Image Credits:
Runway show & apartment images: Chanel News
Chanel Button: Chanel: Collections & Creations
Chanel Gravestone: Ballyshannon
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Above: Le sacre du printemps (The Rite of Spring): Part I (The Adoration of the Earth) – by Igor Stravinsky
There’s a moment in Director Jan Lounen’s film Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky, after a passionate sex scene (one of many), where the Russian composer tells Chanel, played by Anna Mouglalis, that she is not an artist. She could have had any man she wanted but she could not deny that which inspired her, even if he was married.
This moment ends an intense yet short affair between the innovative designer and the Russian composer but not before the two reached amazing high points in their respective careers.
After dedicating herself to her work, Chanel slowly began to evolve into a piece of art herself. This is something Lounen’s translates beautifully through the visuals in his film. Most of the film takes place in Coco’s garden villa, where she invited the exiled Stravinsky (Mads Mikkelsen) and his family to stay while he worked. The decor of the villa is lavish and speaks to the indulgence of the intense affair. The whimsical garden, large enough for a horse ride and a swing between the trees, speaks to the romantic tones of the film down to the moans coming from the secret love shack in the woods.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
In another scene, while in her room and after parting with Stravinsky, Chanel catches a glimpse of herself working in the mirror and pulls the drape to cover it. As unapologetic and not guilty as Coco felt about her affair with a married man, we see that it really is lonely at the top. She’s surrounded by extravagance and elegance but her loneliness is almost painful for her to witness. Her strict and detailed ways allowed her reach a level of success that is unmatched by any other fashion designer. Stravinsky’s revolutionary use of dissonance propelled him into music history books. After Boy Capel’s death, all the grief-stricken Coco wanted was to be fascinated and intrigued by a man again. She was a woman who yearned, lusted and loved.
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
The film paints Coco as a woman of high standards, admired by other woman for her confidence but plagued by others thinking that her gambling with love meant she did not take it seriously.
Chanel was first captivated by Igor’s intensity and his brilliant mind during the legendary premiere of “The Rites of Spring” on May 29th, 1913.
While the French audience, used to ballets like Swan Lake, was outraged over the pairing of Stravinsky’s adventurous composition and Vaslav Nijinsky’s almost savage choreography, Chanel was excited and drawn to the radical departure. This all makes for one of the most heart-pounding moments in a non-action film I’ve ever experienced. (See a Cannes Excerpt from Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky on Youtube)
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky
From the beginning, the film is whimsical and romantic and at times makes you feel like you’re in a surreal world of savage love and emotions. The intense story follows both Chanel and Stravinsky’s greatest achievements (Ballet Russes, Chanel No. 5) but also captures the pain and “decay” of Catherine Stravinsky—played by a striking Yelena Morozova—as she if forced to watch it all unfold before her and her children’s eyes.
The stunning costumes and score are enough to realize that this isn’t just another Chanel film. Uncle Karl even designed a gown for the film but every gown and outfit in this feature is just as stunning as the next. From Chanel to the male actors fitted in the most appropriate suits, expect to find your mouth slightly opened in awe of the sex, fashion and music Coco & Igor provides.
Review by Lexx Valdez
It used to be that to find info on Chanel, you could only visit Chanel.com – and the info and images you would find there would be very limited. With the growing popularity of social media, Chanel has gone from being elusive to being more accessible online.
For its recent Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour launch, Chanel released an interactive media campaign on Facebook. Chanel fans can learn about the history of Chanel lipstick, see campaign images and behind the scenes videos and allow fans to send virtual Chanel buttons to each other.
For a brand who used to cater to its older (ie, monied) clientele, Chanel is making attempts at reaching a younger audience with campaigns such as the Facebook Rouge Coco virtual buttons. Why would Chanel change things up so much?
I think Chanel is realizing that Chanel fans start young and need to feel like they can buy into the Chanel fantasy. Giving prospective customers the tools to interact with the brand online is one way of building brand loyalty amongst a younger customer base.
Facebook is just one of many new tools that Chanel is using to reach customers using technology. Next, I’ll discuss the growing number of apps, podcasts and media campaigns they are using to get potential shoppers to buy into the Chanel fantasy.
Les Fidèles De Chanel, or “the faithful ones” are girls about town that act as modern-day Chanel ambassadors. One of Fidèles is Poppy Delevingne, British socialite and model. Her Summer Travel Essentials are perfect for a day at the beach.
I’m drooling over the shades and the beach towel/tote bag set. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I’m available, ready and willing to be one of Les Fidèles De Chanel…just say the word Karl and we’re good to go!
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