Posted: July 19th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: History | No Comments »
“A fashion that does not reach the streets is not a fashion.”
Posted: July 19th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: Events, Fine Jewelry | No Comments »
The Chanel Paris boutique at 18 Place Vendôme held a gathering during Paris Couture week exhibiting both their 2005 Éléments Célestes fine jewelry line along side of artist Xavier Veilhan’s temporary installations. Attended by actresses, models, celebrities along hand with other couture clients; ladies who could actually afford to buy these lovely gems.
Velilhan’s pieces exhibited include a enormous reclining female statue, which was digitally designed in resin. Upstairs, metallic plates presenting the jewels move across a metallic table top while Veilhan’s light machine fills the room with light.
Éléments Célestes brings us star-struck gems in perfect white diamonds and pearls. This line inspired by the wonders of the cosmic world is shaped as comets, stars, constellations and planets done in broaches, necklaces and earrings. Some of the jewelry designs are rooted from creations the design house issued in the 1930′s. Shown here is a ring made of white gold, reticulated crystal and diamonds. On the right, an adjustable bracelet of white gold, diamonds with floating pearls. The bracelet expands to the width you want to wear it at, smaller for the wrist, wider for higher on the arm. The bracelet resembles the symbolic Chanel gardenia when collapsed to it’s smallest form.
Posted: July 18th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: History | No Comments »
“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
Posted: July 18th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: Clothing | 1 Comment »
This collection is not the Chanel your grandma knew, far from! Chanel is on the cutting edge of innovation and marketing. The Japanese market loves Chanel. Being that Chanel generates as much revenue in Japan as in the entire European market, there is no question as to why we have a show almost clearly made to order. Is this Yoko Ono in the 60′s, but in Chanel style? Japanese Street style has a clear influence, no doubt about it. There is barely a brave American who would wear patterned tweed pants layered with mismatched coats, sweaters, go-go boots, then have the guts to accessorize with costume jewelry after all that. The Japanese will, with styling straight off the runway, gothic Lolita makeup and all. The bows are bigger, the jewelry more excessive, the hair more extreme. The modern art drama of this show is not for the fashion timid. The simplicity that Coco Chanel strived for was thrown out the door. At least thanks to this season and the fun Karl had with it, we have a whimsical matchstick high heel and stunning redesigns of Coco Chanel’s cuff bracelets.
Be it a bit heavy, there is still pieces here that are being ordered for our American market. This red dress has all the elements fall trends are asking for, Edwardian romanticism in darker rich colors. Take note, Chanel is slowly sneaking in men’s fashions. Start convincing your boyfriends, husbands and gay guy friends that it’s the next best thing since Dior Homme. Boutiques are ordering just a select few pieces for men at this time.
Posted: July 16th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: History | No Comments »
A little interesting fact:
Chanel invented her first shoe line to lengthen the leg and make the foot appear smaller. She did this with making the shoe beige, the color of the leg. Then the toe was black, stopping the eye’s view of the foot, making it appear smaller. This is how the iconic beige and black were matched up and still play a very important part of the Chanel look today!
Posted: July 15th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: Purses | No Comments »
With the MET exhibit open, and the 50th anniversary of the 2.55 quilted purse, it is appropriate that we take a retrospective look back onto the foundations of Chanel designs. Fall is bringing us many vintage reproductions and distressed leather purses. The original 2.55 purse design (2) is being reissued (but more on that later). There are also a few other bags that will use the same leather as the reissue, as seen here in the “Square Vintage”(1). This purse is more meant to be hand carried with braided leather and chain handles. The size is comparable to the Ligne Cambon bowling bag we have seen from last season’s collection. In the line also are tote bags, all in the same colors the reissue 2.55 are available in; gray, white and black.
(3) Shown here is another vintage inspired purse with simple clasp finished in a sumptuous crackled glazed leather. Not shown, but on the Chanel website there is a cute petite pouchette with front love letter pocket being reissued from the 1960′s. Another vintage reproduction will be a line of purses with vertical line quilting with no diamond pattern. Coco herself use to carry purses with this design. (4) Once upon a time Chanel produced a studded quilted purse. Here we see it again. It is lust worthy with its dichotomy of classic and edgy. This purse is shaped just like a classic flap bag, but with only one chain strap, also available in brown.
The Paris-Tokyo collection is being released about the same time as fall collections. This collection brings us a rich and dazzling pewter colored quilted flap bag. (5) The color is so multidimensional, the leather so soft with texture to die for. It is also available in antique gold, which resembles aged brass. Metallic purses are so hot right now; you can’t miss with these purses. They actually are so much better because the colors are more subdued, making the purse less trendy, fall/winter ready. The colors are as significant as jewelry. Silver and gold just can never be passé. (6) It’s not winter with out a fur bag by Chanel. If you plan on being a ski lodge bunny, you need the very best in fur.
Regular lines such as the classic flap bag with double chain strap will be available as always. Expect to see it in black, white, gray, a rich dark chocolate brown, yellow, light green, blush, ruby, clay, and two shades of beige.
As always, there are so many note worthy purses coming out, it’s impossible to mention them all. Please visit your local Chanel boutique for a full listing of what they will be getting in stock this season.
Posted: July 14th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: History | No Comments »
Chanel was a pioneer, innovating so many fashion basics we take for granite today. With out her, who knows where the state of fashion might be today. Here compiled is a list of things she was a “first” at doing.
Coco invented the shoulder strap for purses allowing a woman to free up use of her hands.
She was the first couture designer to put her name on a perfume, others soon followed suit.
Chanel coined the term “Little Black Dress” and emphasized what this dress can do for women.
She was the first fashion designer to gain celebrity status, socializing at an upper class level. Before, designers and milliners were just working people not fit to be recognized on the street by their customers.
Chanel made costume jewelry chic. She schooled women in the the accessibility of costume jewelry, and took the stigma out of faux gems and metals. A woman could buy a lot of it as it was cheaper then fine gemstones, giving you something to accessorize every outfit.
Coco was one of the first women to get a suntan and declare it was in vogue!
On accident Chanel helped women dress in men’s pajamas. During WWI, in the middle of the night at the Ritz Hotel, ladies were directed to go to the basement for shelter. Chanel was asked to find a solution of what a woman could wear to bed that would be more decent.
Posted: July 14th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: Events | 1 Comment »
May 5, 2005–August 7, 2005
The Metropolitan Museaum of Art now has an exhibit open on Chanel. The museaum will be showing original clothes designed by Coco Chanel herself from the 1920′s though to modern designs by Karl Lagerfeld. Stunning examples are shown from the museaums archives, clothing on loan from the design house, as well as other institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The exhibit launched with a gala opening night party. The who’s who of the fashion world arrived dressed in their best. Don’t mistake the garb for a black and white ball. It’s just Chanel style!
Posted: July 13th, 2005 | Author: Administrator | Filed under: Clothing | No Comments »
2005′s Fall season has a delightful mix. Always reinventing Chanel style but still taking from traditional elements you have a recognizably Chanel look. The dresses have a very luxurious subtle 1960′s feel. We see a-line dresses that looked as if modeled by Twiggy. The runway makeup was inspired by Penelope Tree, another model of that era. When viewing the fabrics of these luscious dresses at trunk shows, you can appreciate them so much more. More than just having a retro look, even the fabric looks like it is from another era. Vintage fabrics are often synonymous with quality, something modern day clothes often lack. You can see Karl keenly paid attention to when fabrics when chosen for these Fall designs.
Though Karl hates era comparisons, understandable so with his eye to the future, he often brings an air of whimsy and nostalgia into his designs. With his fishnet dresses, you have a tasteful interpretation of the 1980′s, a hard era to give class to. Perhaps looks like these are the ones people are referring to when they say Chanel has been so “youthful” and “fresh” lately. These dresses are made for girls in their twenties!
This Fall we saw more beautiful tweed coats (that you can never go wrong with) layered with knits, silver lurex fabrics, skinny pants and leg warmers. Sexy slouchy thigh high leather boots gives an edge to school girl skirts. Most of the outfits were accessorized by the epic reissue of the original 2.55 purse, bringing tradition to balance out the innovative designs of the season.
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