I’m a relatively new mother and like all new mother’s I’m sleep deprived. That means that my old lifestyle of staying up late and going out or catching an episode of SNL is long-gone. So I will admit that I’m a few months late on this but it’s funny nonetheless. SNL did a parody of Chanel fragrance commercials with a perfume called “Red Flag”. It’s pretty funny – Chanel ads are lovely but you have to keep things in perspective and have a sense of humor about them, no?
November 21, 2011
November 10, 2011
Chanel Links: 11.10.11
To commemorate the opening of the first Chanel boutique in Brisbane, Australia, Chanel has released a limited edition blue Brisbane bag. Courier Mail
An exhibition of Jean-Paul Goude’s work at Les Arts Décoratifs includes the Chanel Coco ad featuring Vanessa Paradis as a bird which he produced.
Karl may think that Facebook is a “flawless object” but that doesn’t stop him from hoarding iPhones with his likeness on them. Refinery 29
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.
October 25, 2011
Assouline Chanel Special Edition with Tweed Chanel Slipcase
In June I posted about a limited-edition set of Chanel books published by Assouline complete with a quilted leather Chanel slipcase. Assouline is releasing another limited-edition set of Chanel books – in an edition of 30 – but this time the slipcase is a Chanel tweed. The set with Chanel tweed slipcase will retail for $2,500 each and will be sold at Assouline boutiques and website, in addition to being included in the Neiman Marcus’ Christmas selection. What a gorgeous addition to a Chanel book collection, no? At that price though, I think I’d rather have a Boy bag or some jewelry.
September 27, 2011
Les Exclusifs de Chanel JERSEY Out Now
Earlier this summer, Chanel announced that they would be introducing two new scents this fall: Chanel N°19 Poudré and Jersey, a new addition to Les Exlcusifs de Chanel. I love the Exclusifs de Chanel collection because the premise of the collection is highlighting rare fragrances created by the House of Chanel. Some of the fragrances are old fragrances that have been revived, while others are new creations. The new creations are named after places and things that had a large impact on Coco Chanel’s life or on her design such as Coromandel for her beloved laquered screens, Beige for one of her favorite colors and now Jersey.
Jersey is significant because it is the first fabric she worked with in her apparel designs. Though many of us live in jersey today, back when Chanel began designing apparel (early 20th century – WWI) jersey was only used for men’s undergarments. This was just one of the revolutionary changes that Chanel made to women’s fashion as jersey is comfortable, movable and doesn’t require corsets. Chanel’s use of Jersey was the second step toward freeing of women from the shackles of fashion (the first being freeing their heads from enormous overly embellished hats!).
Here is how Chanel describes the scent:
As light and liberating as the modern fabric for which it was named — daringly appropriated from menswear by Coco Chanel for women’s fashions — JERSEY is the new fragrance masterpiece from Chanel Master Perfumer Jacques Polge. An inspired composition, JERSEY is evocative of a meadow lush with lavender — an essence previously worn only by men. A tender trail of Vanilla and Musk brings femininity to the forefront, and a rare, sophisticated new scent is born.
Les Exclusifs de Chanel are available only in Chanel boutiques online at Chanel.com. I’m going to the San Francisco Chanel boutique this weekend to test out Jersey – I can’t wait to experience it. Right now I’m favoring Beige as my daily scent but I’ve been considering adding Gardenia to the mix – and now maybe Jersey.
September 19, 2011
Dior Copies Chanel…Again.
About a month ago I posted about how Dior’s ad campaign was treading a bit too closely to Chanel territory. The quilted purse with chain strap and the tweed jacket – which are signatures of the Chanel brand – were the central focus of the Dior campaign. I also mentioned that the new Dior watch also closely resembles the Chanel J12. When I saw the following fragrance ad campaign for J’adore Dior my jaw dropped.
It’s common knowledge (at least amongst the fashion set) that Marilyn Monroe famously said when asked what she wore to bed: “What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel N°. 5, of course.” When I think of celebrities and fragrances, I always think of Marilyn Monroe and Chanel N°. 5. To recast Marilyn Monroe as a Dior perfume lover is tantamount to re-writing history. I wonder what Chanel thinks of all this?
There’s also a video of how to wear a Dior bag – beige, quilted (matelassé) and with chain strap – and the bag is paired with tweeds throughout the entire video. I feel this is all way too close to the Chanel branding. I understand that Dior is going through a bit of turmoil right now, but it’s DIOR! I expect better than that. They have a rich and storied tradition that they can pull from – they shouldn’t seek to try to be one of their competitors.
**UPDATE**Two readers, Isabel and Margaret, were kind enough to point out that the model in the Dior bag ad is in fact Jac Jagaciak, the face of Chanel Beauté! The more “coincidences” I find, the less it feels like “coincidence.”
September 16, 2011
Chanel Links: Week of September 12, 2011
- Kirsten Dunst wore a long white Chanel skirt to the Melancholia premiere at the Toronto Film Festival. (Just Jared)
- Read about Grasse, the region in France where many of the flowers used in Chanel fragrances come from. (New Zealand Herald)
- Chin Chow sported a lovely manicure and when asked about it, all she could say was that it was for a shoot she did with Karl Lagerfeld – can’t wait to see! I love this manicure – I may have to replicate it! (Style)
- Word on the Hollywood streets is that Lea Michelle and Dianna Agron, both of Glee fame, are sourcing rare vintage couture from the Chanel archives for the Emmy Awards. I hope this is true because I would love to see dresses from the archives – though I’d be afraid to wear it! (E!)
- Another rumor, this on the financial end, but word is because of the weakend dollar in Asia, some Chanel boutiques in Asia are “limiting new customers to one bag before they get into a deeper relationship.” (Forbes)
- Tory Burch debuted her first clothing collection at New York Fashion Week and Suzy Menkes called it “Coco Chanel Lite”. (New York Times)
- Elizabeth Taylors clothing and jewels are up for auction this December including a dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld back when he was designing “for the Tiziani label in Rome.” (New York Times)
- Chicks on Speed have created a “Voodoo Chanel” exhibit and one of the designers stated: “I actually wanted to offer them [Chanel] to do a youth line – that Voodoo Chanel becomes super hip, because we’re making Chanel cool by making Voodoo Chanel!” REALLY? YOU’re making Chanel cool? Ha! (WWD)
- mrluxlifey shows us what it’s like to open up a box with a Chanel bag for the very first time (mrluxlifey)
- Chanel tops Alexa Chung’s list of fashion favorites, she stated: ‘They’re just so frigging classy.” Well said. (Elle UK)
August 22, 2011
Chanel N°19 Poudré – A Classic Reinvented
Model: Édita Vilkeviciute; Photographer: Solve Sundsbo; © CHANEL - Solve SUNDSBO
One day, having ordered labels with the name “Coco” on them, she realized that it didn’t work for that fragrance. And so sche called it “N°19″.
Why N°19? Not long before her death, Coco explained why to her friend and confidante, Carmen Tessier.
“It is the day of my birthday, August 19. I was born under the sign of Leo – the lion. And I am just like the lion. I will bring out my claws to protects myself against being hurt. But believe me, it is harder for me to lash out at someone than to have someone lash out at me.”
So what do you think of this fragrance? she asked, while spraying us with more. “Believe it or not but a man once stopped me in the street because of it. As I was leaving the Ritz, I felt someone touch my shoulder. I turned around and saw a stranger. Before I could sharply brush off this intruder, he said, with an American accent:
‘Excuse me, I’m with two ladies who would like to know what perfume you are wearing.’
I told him: ‘Why don’t you all follow me.’ And I took them to the CHANEL boutique, where – once we arrived – they realised who I was….”
–Mandemoiselle Chanel speaking with Carmen Tessier, Les Anees Chanel by Pierre Galante, 1972, p. 321-322.
On August 19, Chanel unveiled its newest fragrance, Chanel N°19 Poudré, the newest addition to the Chanel N°19 fragrance family. Early that morning, I was delighted to find a package from Chanel – my very own bottle of Chanel N°19 Poudré Eau de Parfum. It’s one thing to receive a press kit about a fragrance and write about it based on a description, it’s quite another to actually experience the fragrance yourself.
I immediately opened the bottle and began spritzing. At first you are hit with a very light crisp scent. But the experience doesn’t stop there. There are many layers to Chanel N°19 Poudré. After the lightness settles, you sense a sensual muskiness at the end. With these diverse layers, I can easily say that Chanel N°19 Poudré is as complex as the woman behind it.
Because of the duality of the fragrance, lightness and musk, Chanel N°19 Poudré is a fragrance that would work for summer, or winter, or even as a transitional fragrance to wear between seasons. Since I received my bottle of Chanel N°19 Poudré on Friday, I’ve worn it everyday and I now have a new favorite. Chanel N°19 Poudré is available for sale online at Chanel.com or at Chanel boutiques.
For more on Chanel N°19 Poudré check out:
Interview with Jacques Polge and information about the fragrance.
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- Model: Édita Vilkeviciute; Photographer: Solve Sundsbo; © CHANEL – Solve SUNDSBO
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- Photographer: Philippe Galowich; © CHANEL – Philippe Galowich
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- Photographer: Philippe Galowich; © CHANEL – Philippe Galowich
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- Photographer: Philippe Galowich; © CHANEL – Philippe Galowich
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- Photographer: Philippe Galowich; © CHANEL – Philippe Galowich
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- © CHANEL
August 2, 2011
It’s Official, Perfume Makes Women Feel Sexy
Ok, maybe it ‘s not totally official but a poll by a British drugstore surveyed 2,000 women to see what beauty tricks made them feel beautiful. Not surprisingly, more than half of the women said their number one trick to feel sexy is to put on perfume. This poll just confirms what Coco Chanel knew all along – why else would she say to “wear perfume where you want to be kissed”?
July 18, 2011
Chanel Word on the Street: Karl Retiring? New Coco Perfume?
At any given time there is at least one rumor involving Chanel. I suppose that’s what happens when you keep info under lock and key – there’s going to be lots of speculation and rumor spreading. There are two rumors I heard recently – no word on their authenticity but I’ll keep you posted…
- Fashionista reported that they heard a rumor that the Chanel Fall/Winter 2011/2012 show was so late at night because it was Karl’s last show. I really hope this is not true
I can’t imagine that (a) Karl would retire; and (b) that if it were his last show there would be a ton of fanfare. - Perfume Shrine reported that Chanel’s next perfume will be a flanker to its highly successful perfume Coco and will be called Coco Noir. This is one rumor that I hope is true! I always love a good fragrance – and ad campaign! I wonder who will be the face of Coco Noir? Too bad Dior snatched up Natalie Portman
June 17, 2011
CHANEL N°5, Story of an Icon
The story and iconography of Chanel N°5 never gets old. The mystery of the iconic scent continues to unfold in the latest video on the subject as told by Jacques Polge, Chanel’s infamous “nose”.
