Coco Chanel is one of my favourite designers of all time. So being booked for a Chanel show is kind of a dream come true.
When I think of Chanel I think of pearls on black. I think of jersey jackets and of course I think of the black quilted purse with interlocked chain strap that I just can’t afford.
The reason I love Chanel so much is the spirit of the brand. Which comes from the matriarch herself Coco Chanel.
Coco Chanel came from nothing her father unable to care for her sent her and her sister to an orphanage. From there to put it simply she revolutionised women’s fashion.
It was the 1910’s and opulence ruled; women’s dresses involved several layers of materials such as silk, satin and chiffon. All this material was layered over a restrictive literally spine-bending s-corset that manipulated women’s bodies into an exaggerated hourglass shape that was overtly sexual and considered the feminine ideal. Add to this a surplus features such as bows, feathers, jewels etc. and you have the amazing over the top dresses that women wore everyday.
Chanel flouted these ideals. She wore simple outfits- shirts and riding pants, hats and neckties. Her designs challenged the preconceived norms and ideals of female fashion. More than that she challenged what it was to be a woman. Chanel reduced her dresses lines to their simplest expression; shortened dresses to above the ankle and removed the need for restrictive corsets. By removing the need for restrictive undergarments she restored woman to their natural shape and allowed women more movement to be active.
She designed clothing that embodied the spirit of what she called ‘the modern woman’ before the modern woman existed. A modern woman was one who drove cars, wore pants and was independent or at least gave the impression she could be. This was the look of Chanel and today that same spirit continues on through the Chanel Empire.
This is my favourite quote
Coco Chanel speaking in the third person:
“She took the English masculine and made it feminine. All her life, all she did was change men’s clothing into women’s; jackets, hair, neckties, wrists. Coco Chanel always dressed like the strong independent male she dreamed of being. She set woman free because she had suffered too long from not being free herself.”
Eccentric- yes. Full of contradictions- of course. Genius- I believe so.
Ok so enough of my rambling as you can see I’m a bit excited.
Today the spirit of Chanel is the same. Timeless elegance. Clothes for the modern woman. This week I died and went to Chanel heaven.
After trying on three full-length evening gowns unfortunately made for someone about a foot taller than me. I found my dress (well the stylist selected it for me). It was a simple classic Chanel look. Black chiffon pleated dress synched at the waist with a black belt. Shoestring straps and some very fiddle but very pretty button detailing. Add to this jewellery worth more than my house back home and Mary Jane platform shoes.
The show was quite the affair- no expense spared. The Chanel team transformed the third floor of the industrial building into a crystal city. Giant glass model buildings and towers stretched the centre of the room. French champagne, French food and French music. Two giant sliding doors open and four models dripping in diamonds descend down the stairs…
Oh Chanel heaven is a sweet, sweet place.
Photo’s still to come…
