Gabrielle Chanel is known for supporting the arts. Her close circle of friends included Stravinsky, Picasso and Diaghilev - some of the most creative and talented minds of the time. So, it should come as no surprise that the house of Chanel still cultivates the arts. Last year, Chanel announced the Mobile Art Container by Zaha Hadid. Unfortunately, the project came to a halt but Chanel’s support of the arts continues. This year, Chanel is sponsoring the Tribeca Film Art Awards.
Each year, the Tribeca Film Festival asks 10 New York-based artists to create original works - each piece serves as a filmmaker prize, awarded to the Festival’s winning film directors. During the festival, the original works are on display to the public. The 10 artists selected are Fritz Chesnut, SunTek Chung, Stephen Hannock, Kalp Linzy, Robert Mangold, Sr., Clofford Ross, David Salle, Tom Slaughter, Hank Willis Thomas, and Mickalene Thomas.
The Art Awards are on display at the Chanel Soho Boutique until April 29th.
Back in November we gushed about the Chanel 5 Euro Coin made to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Gabrielle Chanel’s birth. If you didn’t get your Euro, this Spring, Uncle Karl is releasing cuffs - accessories that Mademoiselle herself used to wear, with the gold coins embedded in them. If he’s got these up his sleeve (pun intended), I can’t wait to see what other “coin” pieces he has. Please, please have bracelets and belts with dangling coins galore ala vintage 80s Chanel!!
There’s so much going around in the “Rock Band” and “Guitar Hero” turf wars but Chanel’s guitar is no match for those reindeer games. For Spring 2009, Chanel is releasing a black matte acoustic guitar shown on the runway with a flamenco-inspired, tiered, ruffle dress. The guitar would not be compelte without a case - a white leather quilted case, that is. And can we talk about the fingerless gloves the model holding the guitar case is wearing. I want a close up, knowing Karl, those are not plain back buttons . . . small camelias perhaps?? Whatever it is, this guitar makes me want to learn how to strum some chords. Check out the gloves and the case after the jump. Read the full story
Last week we posted about the Chanel silent film teaser but we just saw the whole thing on the Chanel website. You can view the full film here. It’s really wonderful to see Chanel’s early life told in a media format that was popular at the time that the story is being told. Karl is a genius, whether it’s fashion design, photgraphy, dj’ing or now, directing film. Bravo!!
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 & InfoRead the full story
Karl Lagerfeld directed a 10-minute silent film, documenting the early years of Gabrielle Chanel, to coincide with a showing of Chanel’s Paris-Moscow, a luxury pre-fall ready-to-wear collection. The homage was fitting since her early years were heavily influenced by French men, and Russian men, alike. The film was shot in 2 days and rather than use extras, Lagerfeld recruited actual workers from the atelier. “I cannot take extras,” Karl stated. “They don’t know how to touch the clothes.”
The idea of a silent film is really new, even though the method itself is a bit antiquated. In a time when we’re constantly bombarded with technology, it’s quite refreshing to sit back for a minute in silence and just watch. “Today, people are ready for silent movies again, as they spend time — hours, I would say — looking at text messages and e-mails,” Karl stated. “I always loved silent movies.” It seems like this is the year for Chanel on film, first Lifetime, now this, and next year the feature film. I cannot wait to see this - I feel like with Karl directing this ship, it will be the most accurate, (and probably best looking), portrayal of Mlle. Chanel’s early life. The show and mini-film will be shown tonight in Paris.
To celebrate the 125th anniversary of Gabrielle Chanel’s birth, Lagerfeld minted a coin of his design. “There might be less of it, but money can still be beautiful,” Karl Lagerfeld stated last week. The collection includes two silver coins and two gold coins - all with a value of 5 euros - a nod to the iconic Chanel fragrance, Chanel No.5. The total collection will number 11,099 coins and goes on sale on Dec. 1. The most valuable of the coins, the gold one, is limited to an edition of 99 pieces and will sell for 5,900 euros, or $7,450. Now, that’s a mark-up! Ooooh, if only I could get my hands on this!!
A little while back we told you about the release of photographer Douglas Kirkland’s book, Coco Chanel: Three Weeks/1962, that features never before seen photos of the fashion icon in some of her most intimate and public moments. To commemorate the release of the book, the Westwood Gallery in NYC is showcasing 40 of Douglas Kirkland’s photos of Mademoiselle Chanel.
In 1962, Douglas Kirkland spent 3 weeks with Coco Chanel following her every move and documenting her routine and her work. When Kirkland approached her about the project, she was hesitant and asked that he submit photos of models wearing her collection so that she could get a sense of his work. She was so taken with his photography skills that she allowed him full access to her and her private rooms. They even went to Versaille to photograph the Grand Dame there. These photos are definitely going to be something special because they will show Chanel in her most intimate moments as never seen before. And, to see them enlarged, all together in one room will surely be breathtaking. The exhibit runs from October 18 - November 29 at Westwood Gallery, 568 Broadway, NY, NY.
The most famous fragrance of all time, worn by iconic women from Mlle. Chanel herself and Marilyn Monroe, is still one of the most worn fragrances. Today, Chanel is launching Chanel N°5 Eau Premier, “[a] decidedly lighter, fresher, softer interpretation of N°5.” In true Chanel style, to celebrate the launch the website has been updated with new features celebrating Chanel N°5 such as new music and video - you can watch here and purchase the new fragrance here. I can’t wait to give this a try!
Check out more pictures from the beautiful site after the jump.
Last night I tuned in to Lifetime’s Coco Chanel, the story of the rise of one of the greatest fashion designer’s ever. Not only a fashion icon, Gabrielle Chanel is an inspiration to women and is the embodiment of the “modern woman,” a woman fiercely independent with a strong will and desire to achieve her dreams. I had expressed some doubt as to the casting, Ms. MacLaine as the grand dame of fashion was a bit of a stretch for me, but I tuned in nonetheless. If it’s about Chanel, I’m there! The film was about Mademoiselle’s youth and her rise from orphan to successful, independent designer. Barbora Bobulova played the “young chanel” and I think she did an amazing job. She had a believable French accent, resembled the young Gabrielle and gave life to Chanel’s struggles and emotions. I wish they aged Ms. Bobulova with make-up (as they did her cousin Adrienne) rather than cast Shirley MacLaine as Chanel. In a word, she was awful. Somehow, with age, Chanel lost her French accent. MacLaine didn’t even attempt a French accent - if she did it was barely noticeable. She sounded like a “hat check girl” in a Chanel costume and her lines were Chanel quotes strung together as “dialogue.” Thankfully, the film actually starred Barbora Bobulova and not Shirley MacLaine as the film was promoted. The film concentrated on Chanel’s youth with bits of older Chanel (MacClaine) telling her story. Though I detested the parts with MacLaine in it (I swear, it was really that bad), I actually did enjoy the film and it was wonderful to see Chanel’s early rise brought to life. I would definitely recommend viewing this, though you may want to plug your ears for the MacLaine lines, and if you missed it last night, tune in tonight to Lifetime at 7 pm.
P.S. - It seems like a lot of ladies are wondering who played the handsome Boy Capel - we’ve investigated for you and it’s Olivier Sitruk.
