- Giles Deacon for Ann Summers - 28 April, 2014
- It Can Only Be Chanel - 2 October, 2013
- Face Face Face, I Get Face, Beauty Face - 12 September, 2013
Earlier this month, Chanel was named the ‘Coolest Fashion Brand’ on the annual CoolBrands list.
From its conception by founder Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel, to Karl Lagerfeld’s stunning collections and dramatic fashion shows of the last 20 years, The House of Chanel has reigned supreme as the designer heavyweight. The Chanel look is unmistakeable. The signature woolen checked jackets and the quilted bags have become iconic, while the edgy tailoring in menswear are desired and worn by the world’s most fashionable men.
The clean lines and sophisticated silhouette of the brand never goes out of style, which is why Chanel is favoured by the glitterati and fashion elite. Blake Lively in that goddess dress at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala, left me wanting to cry as it’s the most beautiful dress I’ve ever seen and I’ll never be able to have it.
The genius and craftsmanship of every piece is pure perfection, and somehow every stitch just emanates style, elegance and the epitome of modern glamour. The credit for this must of course go to the Parisian seamstresses who are masters of their art, many of whom have spent their entire lives working for Chanel.
Menswear collections, (when you eventually notice what the gorgeous model is wearing) simply outclass their rivals. The menswear pieces just define effortless style. The over-sized coats knits, sharp jackets and the unbeatable combination of classic and current style means the collections are timeless yet inventive. But it’s not just the clothes. Their £18m Chanel No5 commercial featuring Nicole Kidman and ‘Gnight Carl’ from Love Actually, was nothing short of fabulous.
The drama, the romance, the opulence, the fairy tale, the fame the omg-i-wish-i-was-her pang, is captivating for those 3 minutes and 19 seconds. I’ve just re-watched it for the first time in ages, and I’m typing this with tears welled up in my eyes. Pathetic. Like a 21st century, advert sized and designer made Disney film. I’d literally do anything to run through the streets of New York as the ‘most famous woman in the world’, the train of my pink feathered Chanel masterpiece swishing at my every step and dancing with ‘Gnight Carl’ on top of a skyscraper.
I don’t know how anyone can top that little scene. They certainly didn’t when earlier this year, Brad’s slightly nauseating monologue cropped up as the latest No 5 advert. Oh well, they still got Brad. I think Chanel earned its place as the number one fashion brand by its ability as a constant innovator. Coco Chanel revolutionized the world of fashion and that spirit remains true of the brand’s values to this day. She introduced her first perfume, Chanel No. 5, in 1922, and it was one of the first perfumes ever to mix natural and artificial essences. She invented the “Little Black Dress” in 1926. She introduced the idea of using jersey fabric to create clothing, which had previously only been used for men’s undergarments. In the wise words of the lady herself , ‘In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.’
