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
The Chanel Fall/Winter 2010-2011 Haute Couture show at the Grand Palais was a grand spectacle complete with a forty-foot lion. But even the lioness could not outshine the clothing and accessories that Uncle Karl designed.
The overall silhouette was a play on layers, length and shoulders. Strong shoulders have been popular for a few seasons now, but the Chanel strong shoulder was different. It’s very soft and round, but strong in the sense that it is exaggerated. Almost all of the looks had the rounded, sculptural shoulder paired with a 3/4 length sleeve. The looks that didn’t have the rounded shoulder were sleeveless and the models’ bare shoulders were reminiscent of the roundness of the sleeved jackets.
Lagerfeld also played with length in this collection. From 3/4 sleeve jackets, to long blouses paired with cropped jackets, to-the-knee skirts and dresses to calf-length dresses and skirts. Most of the hemlines were on the short side – even the formal dresses.
The color palette is one suited for fall – rich jewel tones like garnet, topaz, and sapphire paired with rich browns, camel and black. Lush fabrics like warm tweeds paired with luxe fur; brocade fabric with rich beading and embroidery, dresses embellished with strings of pearls. The overall look is very luxurious and rich – think ladies who lunch.
I must confess, the clothing was not my favorite this season. I wasn’t a very big fan of the big rounded shoulders. What stole the show for me was the accessories. These boots were definitely made for walking – slouchy, ruched, metallic, beaded, and with the iconic black toe cap – every look had an ankle boot to match.
The accessories that had me drooling were the large chunky bangle bracelets – bejeweled with chains hanging and layered – the bracelets were the perfect match for the 3/4 sleeve and sleeveless looks. Brooches and belt buckles had similar looks with chains dripping from them with lion heads at the center. A collection certainly made to make you roar!
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
Karl Lagerfeld Coca Cola Light
Everything Karl Lagerfeld touches turns to gold – er, or black and white. The newest Karl Lagerfeld collectible to add to the list? Coca Cola Light.
Karl Lagerfeld has designed an aluminum bottle with his unmistakable (now slender) silhouette. The bottle comes in a chic limited edition box with a bottle opener. You can get the Karl Lagerfeld Coca Cola Light bottle at Colette – coming soon on April 24th!
Chanel is Bringing Lipstick Back: Vanessa Paradis for Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour
They say lipstick sales are “recession proof” – in fact – sales usually go up. Why? Because it’s an inexpensive way to look beautiful and freshen up your look. Chanel is taking note and bringing lipstick back to a young customer base that is infatuated with lip gloss. This March, Chanel is introducing Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour – and bringing back the lost art of sexily applying your lipstick.
Vanessa Paradis, the French actress (and Johnny Depp’s leading lady) is the face of the campaign and this is not the first time Paradis has worked with Chanel. Andrea D’Avack, president of Chanel Fragrance & Beauté, stated: “Vanessa has been very linked to the house over the years, and she represents a young, sophisticated woman who we also believe will be the consumer for Rouge Coco.” Print and TV ads have been shot though it’s still unclear whether TV spots will be placed in the U.S.
The Rouge Coco line has 30 shades and each hue is named after an influential part of Coco Chanel’s life – Camelia, Mademoiselle, and Paris – to name a few. The shades come in one of four color families Roses-Pinks; Reds-Corals; Violets-Berries, and Neutrals-Browns and will be available in different global markets.
Like many Chanel cosmetics, the packaging takes it’s cue from Chanel’s history with black and gold detailing, interlocking C’s and the Chanel name embossed into each lipstick bullet. The Rouge Coco collection debuts in March with each lipstick retailing for $30 at fine retailers including Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.
Chanel is Bringing Lipstick Back: Introducing Rouge Coco Hydrating Creme Lip Colour
Images & Info: WWD
31 rue cambon
Journalist Susan Stamberg interviewed Chanel archivist Odile Babin on NPR. It’s a terrific article and interview with lots of insight into the little things that the biographies don’t tell you about Coco Chanel.
As a Chanelphile, I loved this interview. I think I found my new dream job – Chanel archivist?? If only I spoke French! I knew there was a reason I was infatuated with Paris and speaking French as a little girl – if only I had learned. I suppose it’s never too late. In the mean time, you can listen to the NPR feature below and you can read the article on NPR.org.
Image and audio from NPR.
Lily Allen preparing fo Chanel Spring 2010 RTW
Chanel recently hosted the Sprig 2010 Ready to Wear collection at the Grand Palais in Paris where the country atmosphere was inspired by Fragonard’s artwork and Marie Antoinette’s Hamlet at Versailles.
Below you’ll find some behind the scenes shots as Lily Allen prepared for her performance at the show, as well as some behind the scenes photos of the Spring 2010 look book photoshoot.
Brass Shaft of Wheat from Cco Chanel's Apartment at 31 Rue Cambon
The shaft of wheat pictured above is from Coco Chanel’s apartment and inspired, in part, the Chanel Spring 2010 collection. The shafts of wheat were Mlle. Chanel’s lucky charm, symbolizing “creativity that never ends.” Wheat makes an appearance in all of the rooms of her apartment from a brass bouquet, to a single shaft of wheat painted by Dalí himself just for Coco. Wheat played a large role in the collection from being tucked into the models’ hair to the bride’s bouquet at the close of the show. The wheat was definitely lucky for Chanel this season as it was a gorgeous collection and stunning presentation.
A few weeks ago Lily Allen was spotted out and about with the Russian Doll Clutch from Chanel’s Pre Fall Collection entitled “Paris to Moscow.” Karl Lagerfeld incorporated the doll into some of the collection’s accessories but the clutch is definitely my favorite. It is being reported that the clutch’s price tag is £2,500, which is about $3,700 U.S dollars. Yikes! I might have to sell a kidney to afford it, unlike Lily Allen who is rocking it well. It is a huge step up for her since her last Chanel look . . . We love you Lily . . . just no more homemade Chanel. K thanks;)
P.S. – Lily Allen’s It’s Not Me, It’s You dropped yesterday! You can get your copy here. Check out the video below where Lily talks about her new album.
Yesterday we told you about the silent film that Karl Lagerfeld directed, in homage to Mlle. Chanel, to introduce the Chanel Métiers D’Art Pre-Fall 2009 collection. I just found a teaser, and I NEED to find the whole thing! I love it! It totally captures the Chanel spirit, especially since it’s filmed in a way that was “a la mode” of the time period that he’s portraying. Karl is a genius. Check out the teaser below:
And now, the clothing! Karl always manages to surprise and delight me. Whenever I think I’ve seen it all, he takes it to a whole other stratosphere. Last year, for Chanel’s Métiers D’Art Pre-Fall collection Karl took us to London (literally and thematically). This time, though showing in Paris, Karl was inspired by Russia. It’s not too far off the mark considering Chanel herself had a romance with a Russian noble, and was friends with Russian creatives including Stravinsky and Diaghilev. In fact, she designed costumes for one of Diaghilev’s ballets. She was so inspired by her Slavic circle of friends that she even had a design period heavily influenced by traditional Russian dress, especially, of course, the men’s garment. But alas, I’m digressing – I’m here to talk about the clothes!
I’ve gone through the collection twice (so far), and each time I rush through it so quickly because I can’t wait to see what’s next and I miss so many details. Every time I go back and look again I find something else that makes my mouth water. For me, the hair and head-pieces stole the show. The garments, of course are amazing but the hair, the braids, the feathers, the dangling cascades of pearls and chandelier hair/hats – my goodness! A-maz-ing. The “fantasy folkloric headdresses [were made] by Japanese wizard Kamo.” When asked what he had up his sleeve for next year, Karl said: “Shanghai Express — the trip [Chanel] never made.” Chanel was enamoured with Asian artwork and her apartment is known to have housed many, many Coromandel screens. I cannot wait to see what next year will bring!
More pictures from the collection, as well as some video footage of the goings-on at the show with still images of the fashion. As soon as the actual show footage is available online we’ll post it up for you! Jeez, I need a fairy god mother to bestow Chanel every season. Oh, fairy god mother, where are you??
Images & Info
Just got word that you can view the Chanel Paris-Londres fashion show live from London tomorrow, Thursday December 6th, beginning at 2:30 PM EST. To view the broadcast go to this link. If you go to the link now you can download a preview which is very cute and full of Chanel tounches. Happy Viewing!
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