Fashion Philosophy: Coco Chanel
Source: Elle
Welcome back to Fashion Philosophy! Earlier this month, I had my first-ever sniff of Chanel No. 5 and fell in love with it. Beyond that, Chanel is my favorite high-end brand and I find Coco Chanel herself incredibly interesting, so I thought it was high time that there be a Fashion Philosophy post dedicated to her.
Now, it would be easy to just look at Chanel’s latest collection and recreate some of the outfits. Instead, I’m going to focus on the influences that founder Coco Chanel had on the fashion world, keeping some of her most famous quotes in mind.
History 101: The Early Life of Coco Chanel
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A Fragrance Psychologist Explains the Perfume Notes of Spring
Coco Chanel famously remarked that “a woman who doesn’t wear perfume has no future.” What she really meant by that is anyone’s guess, but one man quite qualified to take a stab at is Dr. Joachim Mensing. “Fragrance and perfumes are offers for personal transformation, intended to bring us from our ACTUAL SELF – how we feel, closer to our IDEAL SELF – how we would like to feel,” explains the former professor of psychology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he researched & authored scholarly articles about how fragrance, personality & mood are related. Synthesized into his signature Moodform system, he’s been responsible for top-selling fragrances, including Davidoff’s Cool Water. “Behind them is a secret wish to transform ourselves unconsciously, to give off a more feminine, more sensual, more dynamic or self-confident appearance than how we really feel. They also create a certain atmosphere and emotional setting.”
Emotions, in particular, resonate strongly with our choices in fragrance because of the association with memories long tucked away in the deep-storage area of the brain, particularly those connected with feelings we want to re-experience again. “The fascination for a certain fragrance is hidden in our subconscious and linked with desires and moods that are difficult to articulate,” continues Mensing.”“To choose a perfume is a very complex situation that we can only explain to a certain degree.”
In attempting to plumb the depths of this aromatic mystery, those in the know started by dividing fragrances into six main types or families: Oriental, Chypre, Citrus
Green, Floriental, Fruity-Floral & Floral-Aldehydic, the last of which dominates with a hefty market share of almost 30%, thanks to bestsellers including Chanel’s No.5 Eau Premier, J’adore (Dior) & Caleche by Hermés. (image)
Keira Knightley to play Coco Chanel, and Princess Diana’s gowns raise a mint!
Today’s news is all rounded up here for your reading pleasure. Enjoy:
Keira Knightley and Karl Lagerfeld are teaming up once again for a new short film to celebrate Chanel’s 100th anniversary. The designer will direct Keira, who portrays Coco Chanel, in the film (she is also the face of Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle perfume). The movie is based in the seaside town of Deauville, where the first Chanel boutique opened, which has been recreated in Paris where it will be filmed later this week. [WWD]
Ten gowns that once belonged to Princess Diana have fetched over £800,000 for charity at auction. Among some of the most iconic dresses sold, was the blue velvet gown designed by Victor Edelstein, which Diana wore to a dinner at the White House and danced with John Travolta in 1985. This piece sold for a whopping £240,000. It was bought by a man as a surprise for his wife to “cheer her up.” Surely diamonds would have sufficed? [Telegraph]
What to buy your fashion blogger girlfriend for Valentine’s Day
Stuck for what to get your blog-obsessed fashionista ladyfriend? We’ve put together a handy (and only slightly tongue-in-cheek) guide to some of the top blogger must-haves that’ll keep her sweet. You won’t go far doing the rounds of the personal style blogs without stumbling across these babies, so if your girl has her own style blog – big or small – we’re sure she’d love to receive anything on this list come Valentine’s Day. That is, if she doesn’t have them all already…
1. A Rose Gold Watch
Gone are the days of checking your phone when you need the time, or investing in timeless, subtle timepieces. Now a blogger needs a statement watch to go with her neon Zara friendship bracelets and cool little finds from Henri Bendel and Kate Spade. Right now, that means a Michael Kors (£239) or a Marc by Marc Jacobs (unless her name begins with a G, in which case you have to go with Guess). Just look at the amount of these babies that have been added to pinterest boards for more proof that this is a trend that’s going nowhere. A good watch coupled with good accessories will allow your girl to take pics like this, and you’ll get uber brownie points for ramping up her arm candy quota.
Joe Wright, Chanel Brad Pitt Ad Director. Clueless About Ad Meaning!
I just read this tiny piece of contradictory news and I couldn’t help but sharing it with you. Because, honestly, my mind was just blown away by the ridiculously simple marketing strategy promoted by Chanel’s creative (or whoever might be responsible for the advertorial representation of the French maison).
Now! Remember Chanel’s video ad campaign with Brad Pitt? (if you’re having troubles remembering it, you can always watch it again, here). Well, the amazing directorial work was carried out by Joe Wright – which, in his day – to day professional life directed movies like Atonement or Anna Karenina.
However, what mr Joe Wright had to say about Brad Pitt’s Chanel No. 5 ads might surprise you. A lot! (hit the jump to find out why!)
Of Bitches, Looks & Thefts
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FashionTribes.com
You Can Now Smell Like Pizza Hut, Chanel Storms a Scottish Castle, and We Reveal the Woman Behind Choupette’s Twitter!
Sarah Jessica Parker Lies About a Bikini: But why, SJP? The actress made this sort of strange confession at the premiere of In Vogue: the Editor’s Eye earlier this week.
Pizza Hut Perfume is Happening: You’ve always wanted to smell like a hot and fresh pizza–us too. Pizza Hut has got you covered (even if we’ve always preferred Domino’s).
We Reveal the Mastermind Behind Choupette’s Twitter: And no, it wasn’t Karl. But speaking of the Kaiser…
Chanel No 5 Is The ‘Brad Perfume’. Exceeding Sales Expectations!
Everyone out there (and their respective dogs) have spoofed Brad Pitt’s Chanel No 5 campaign. But as financial reports came in, it looks like the joke was on us! Not only the Chanel No.5 perfume wasn’t pulled out of the market as we all expected it would be (potentially poisonous content) but also people refer to it as the ‘Brad Perfume’ – as Grazia Daily reports – and can’t refrain from buying it! He who laughs last…
