Remember how I’ve been going on and on about Dior copying Chanel? Well, I just came across an old Chanel N°5 ad again and well, let’s just say it doesn’t help Dior’s case…
October 1, 2011
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.”
July 7, 2010
Chanel N˚5 Wins “Best Classic Fragrance”
Each year Allure Magazine hosts a Reader’s Choice Award and this year, Chanel N˚5 won Best Classic Fragrance. This should come as no surprise as Chanel N˚5 has been making waves since it debuted on May 5, 1921. Perhaps the most famous fragrance in the world, a bottle of Chanel N˚5 is sold every 55 seconds. (Stephen Brook, Guardian.co.uk). No other perfume has gained the iconic status of Chanel N˚5 and it’s easy to see why it would win the Best Classic Fragrance award.
October 20, 2009
Chanel N˚5 – The Biography
Chanel N˚5
Today, the most iconic fragrance of all time, Chanel N˚5 is seeing the release of an “authorized biography” – Histoire du No.5 Chanel, Un Numéro Intemporel (in English, Story of Chanel No.5, A Timeless Number). The bio is written in French, by François Ternon, and is releasing today in France, Belgium and Switzerland. The book takes us through the development of Chanel N˚5, and includes a discussion of the scent’s 2 creators Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel and Ernest Beaux. The best part? The house of Chanel supplied 32 illustrated pages – I wonder if they include some of Coco’s original sketches? No word yet on if, and when, this will release stateside so for now, I guess I’ll have to learn French!
May 18, 2009
May 5, 2009
Chanel N˚5 Day in NYC & Avenue N˚5
Chanel N˚5
Saks Fifth Avenue and Chanel are celebrating the launch of the new Chanel N˚5 campaign today in an extravagant way that would make Coco proud. The most iconic of Avenues – 5th Avenue – is being renamed Avenue N˚5 from May 2 – 10.
When Chanel N˚5 was first released, it made its debut on May 5th (5.5). I thought that Mlle. was so clever to have the date match her signature fragrance. Today, not only is Chanel N˚5 launched on the same day (eighty-eight years to the day), but renaming 5th Avenue – a street synonymous with fashion, luxury and elegance – is too clever!
“In our celebration of Chanel N˚5’s newest camapaign, we wanted to recognize Chanel’s longstanding relationship with Saks and engage our customer in the fragrance with a complete visual fantasy. We are even more delighted that the city is joining us in recognizing Chanel.” says Ron Frasch, President and Chief Merchandising Officer, Saks Fifth Avenue.
This is not just a marketing scheme – it’s official. The City of New York has officially declared May 5, 2009, Chanel N˚5 Day. To show their gratitude, Chanel and Saks Fifth Avenue and have partnered to create a new arts program P.S.5, the Ellen Lurie Elementary School. The funds will be used to create after school programs & supplies and fund field trips to museums and cultural institutions. This too, is completely true to Coco Chanel’s philosophy as she was an avid supporter of the arts.
“We are honored to partner with the city of New York and Saks Fifth Avenue to name May 5th ‘Chanel N˚5 Day,’” says John Galantic, President and COO of Chanel, Inc. “We are pleased to share the excitement of this iconic product with New York on this symbolic day in our brand’s history.”
If you’re in NYC you must check out the Saks Fifth Avenue – the windows and the interiors are getting a lots of visual treatment. The 17 windows along Avenue N˚5 will feature still shots from the Chanel N˚5 film Train de Nuit (starting Audrey Tautou) along with pieces from the current Chanel ready-to-wear collection. If I were in NY I would definitely take a stroll down Avenue N˚5 - while wearing Chanel N˚5 on Chanel N˚5 day.
I now have a new favorite holiday – HAPPY CHANEL N˚5 DAY!!
