Coco Avant Chanel: New On-Set Stills with Audrey Tautou

The new edition of Elle France published new on-set stills from the upcoming film Coco Avant Chanel starring Audrey Tautou. The movie is currently filming in Paris and is said to be released in France in May of 2009 and will be available worldwide following later in the year. The film will center around Coco Chanel’s earlier years. Designer Karl Lagerfeld has collaborated with costumer Catherine Leterrier for the extravagant film costumes which will include classic Chanel designs and will show how Mademoiselle Chanel was “different from the ladies of her time” — “she was poor, but she had her own style.”

Chanel Métiers D’Art Pre-Fall 2009 Collection

Ever since Karl Lagerfeld revealed that the new Métiers D’Art collection will be inspired by imperial Russia and Russian folklore, everyone could not wait to see it. And finally presented in Paris in the Théâtre le Ranelagh the runway blossomed in this amazing fairy tale. I do not have words to describe what a beautiful collection this truly is and I will let you judge for yourself adoring the pictures below. Every single piece was stunning and brought to life the Russian magic combined with the timeless Chanel style. The folkloric headdresses were done by Japanese wizard Kamo and the garments sparkled with gold high heels, extravagant jewellery and astrakhan muffs.

“There are three things I like about Russia,” said Lagerfeld. “I love Imperial Russia, from Catherine the Great to Fabergé. I love constructivism, of course. And I love Russian folklore, which is very special. What was fun was to mix it all.”

And he truly did as the runway was rich in everything from “a coat with a shawl collar and babushka shoulders to tweed suits with military airs and geometric trim,” and the shimmering gold stockings, leather boots and splashes of stunning knits, brocades, fur trims and embroideries completed the magical Parisian-Russian fairy tale.

Karl Lagerfeld’s Silent Film about Coco Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld opened his pre-fall Paris-Moscow Metiers D’Art Collection at the Le Ranelagh theater in Paris, with a 10 minute black and white silent film about Coco Chanel. Lagerfeld who “always loved silent movies,” directed the film himself, which starred his favorite male model Brad Kroenig and model model Edita Vilkeviciute who plays Coco from 1913. The first part of the film revolves around 1913 when Chanel first opened her shop and the second part takes place in 1923 when she was already well established. The film also featured Chanel’s Russian lover, the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich, from whom she borrowed the pea jacket and pelisse and which tied perfectly to the new Collection which incorporated elements from imperial Russia and Russian folklore.

“It’s a funny movie, unpretentious,” says Lagerfeld. “Chanel was a charming woman, at liberty to seduce men. Everybody this year has decided to make a movie about Chanel, and you know their historical worth is not always too exact.”

The film took two days to shoot in a studio on the outskirts in Paris. Here is a small preview and the full movie is already available on Chanel’s website or from this link by clicking here.

Chanel’s Russian Inspired Collection for Maison D’Art

Karl Lagerfeld is set to present a Russian Inspired Chanel for the Maison d’Art collection in Paris on December 3rd. Coco may have been the ultimate femme Parisienne, but she has always been fascinated by the Near East country. Russia has been an inspiration of Mademoiselle Chanel for her collections starting from the borrowed pea jacket and pelisse from her lover Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich to even creating the fragrance Cuir de Russie with Ernest Beaux, who was known as the perfumer of the tsars. Chanel’s love of all things russe also stem from her admiration of Russian artists like Stravinsky, Diaghilev and Lifar, with whom she created legendary collaborations. Today, Lagerfeld continues the Chanel-Russia love relationship with this much anticipated Maison d’Art collection which will be presented in the Ranelagh Theatre in Paris on December 3rd.

Lagerfeld Decorates Chanel’s Holiday Window with Coco Dolls

Karl Lagerfeld has decorated Chanel’s holiday window for Paris department store Printemps with puppet dolls named Coco. The dolls are fashionably dressed as of course and are in a garden of golden flowers. Gold has been a great inspiration for the Chanel Holiday Make Up collection.

First Photo of “Coco Avant Chanel”

One of the most anticipated films, “Coco Avant Chanel” just released its first look starring the beautiful Audrey Tautou who will play the icon Coco Chanel in her earlier days. Filming began in early September in Paris and Normandy and the movie is set to be released in late 2009. Directed by Anne Fontaine, the film is loosely based on the biography of Mademoiselle Chanel by Edmonde Charles-Roux titled L’irreguliere. The much awaited costumes, which will also feature iconic Chanel dresses, will be designed by Catherine Leterrier with Karl Lagerfeld’s oversight.

“Any woman who wants to invent a destiny for herself can identify with the early years of Coco Chanel, a young uneducated woman who dreams of entering the world while exacerbating her differences and ignoring everything of the extraordinary destiny awaiting her,” says Tautou. “That’s what makes the whole modernity of the film, and that was the reason why I didn’t hesitate a single second when the role was offered to me.”

“Chanel Unlimited” Launches for Christmas

Karl Lagerfeld is expanding the fashion house with an all new line of bags and accessories called Chanel Unlimited just in time for Christmas. The range of bags comes in glossy silver grey canvas material embossed repeatedly with the words “Paris”, “31, rue Cambon” “Coco” and “Chanel.” The line includes all types of bags for every lady to choose from; everything from clutch and hobo to large garment bags. True to Chanel, the bags offer exquisite details such as invisible zip fastenings, leather reinforcements, and fashionable practicality such as inside pockets, and snap hooks.

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