Chanel: Métiers d'art collections.

I’m aware of the fact that I’ve been talking about Karl Lagerfeld a lot lately. But it’s just so very easy to find new interesting information/articles about him. Journalists and magazines must be most interested in interviewing Karl, I guess. I read a spectacular interview with Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli about a year ago, and I recall flicking through the most amazing Valentino interview at least 10 years ago (I remember it being one of the first fashion encounters that really startled my interest.) Of course there was the Tom Ford Vogue Paris issue that had some good articles to it. But still, I seldom come across a good online interview with other designers. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong places, I don’t know, but in future I’ll just try to find interviews with other designers by searching for it very specifically…

But I’ll start with this article in WSJ magazine (The Old-World Artistry behind the Modern House of Chanel: A first-ever look inside the French luxury house's legendary haute ateliers) on Chanel and the Métiers d’Art collections. The Métiers d’Art collections are special showcases for the decorative crafts of the Parisian ateliers Chanel has worked with for several decades. (Desrues the costume jewellers, Lesage the embroiderers, milliner Michel, feather artisan Lemarié, cobbler Massaro, floral designer Guillet, and silversmith Goosens.) Many of them are acquired by the House of Chanel, to preserve the highly skilled arts from the fast-fashion trends. Houses like Dior and Louis Vuitton (it’s all very select) are allowed to use the work shops as well. Every year there’s a Métiers d’Art collection in another international city to highlight the aterliers’ remarkable skill. These are in fact full collections that balance spring’s Cruise collections. As Karl Lagerfeld himself says: “but it is a real collection as important as Fall, Spring and Cruise.” This issue focuses on the recent Paris-Byzance collection that is based on Coco Chanel’s private byzantine jewelry collection. You can find pictures and interactive graphics (even prices!) by clicking on the link. I’ll ad another link to a short Q&A interview that accompanies the initial article.

Métiers d'Art: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704495004576265232574017932.html#project%3DSLIDESHOW08%26s%3DSB10001424052748704071704576277510621573864%26articleTabs%3Darticle

Q&A: 

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703983704576277292669720956.html

I’ll probably talk some more about Chanel the following days with the Cruise Collection being presented tomorrow as well as the new short movie the day after. But to create a little variation I will talk about some other people/issues afterwards.  

Inspiration and pictures via http://online.wsj.com/public/page/magazine-index.html

Chanel Cruise Collection 2011/2012: The Tale of a Fairy by Karl Lagerfeld.

A new Chanel short movie will be presented on the 10th of may following the presentation of the Cruise collection that will take place the day before. The film stars Anna Mouglalis, Chanel ambassadress, Amanda Harlech, Kristen McMenamy, Freja Beha, Bianca Balti, Baptiste Giabicono, Brad Kroenig, Jake Davies, Mark Vanderloo, Oriol Elcacho, Sébastien Jondeau, Seth Kuhlman...
The collection itself will be presented at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc at the Cap d'Antibes.    The invitation features Coco Chanel herself and looks like this:

Karl Lagerfeld on the movie: “It is a movie about an ill-advised use of money which begins with violence and ends with feeling.”

The movie will be available on chanel.com on May 10^th at 9.00 PM GMT

A little preview:

The invitation for the collection that will be presented at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc at the Cap d'Antibes features Coco Chanel herself and looks like this:

I should really check out the Chanel news site more http://chanel-news.chanel.com/en/ so that it becomes a habit.

Information via http://chanel-news.chanel.com/en/



Visionaire 60 Religion: Carine Roitfeld by Karl Lagerfeld.

"Riccardo Tisci’s issue of Visionaire explores religion as liberating force, complete with its share of saints, sinners, and supermodels.

If you don’t believe that fashion is a religious sect unto itself—and a fast-growing one at that—well, maybe you should pray a little harder. Need you be reminded that today’s most awe-inspiring transfigurations are achieved by supermodels, not saints? (Easy to confuse the two, granted.) Should you be one of these lamentable non-believers, you might want to check out Visionaire’s latest issue, devoted to religion and guest-edited by Riccardo Tisci in collaboration with Givenchy."

Carine Roitfeld, 2011. Photography Karl Lagerfeld

The issue covers Ricardo Tisci’s view on religion that is influenced by him growing up in a 70’s Italian family. He discusses how important religion is for him, the force and energy he gets out of it. Furthermore he conceptualises religion not per se as something Catholic, but he stresses the importance in believing in something (Love, work, family…). However the issue itself is Catholically inspired as you can tell looking at the picture. Karl Lagerfeld (The Kaiser’ quote; “Religion is anything you believe in.”) shot a series of, and now I quote, haunting portraits.  

The rest of the issue features contributors like Giovanna Battaglia styling and Pierpaolo Ferrari shooting model Lea T (the famous transgender model) in an exuberant visual editorial. Further on we get to see Franca Sozzani (Editor in chief Vogue Italia) photographed by Francesco Carrozzini (her son) in a religious scene that is recreated by Paolo Canevari (at least I suspect that, because Canevari is a contemporary artist).

The magazine comes as a limited edition of only 3000 issues. You can preorder it, buy it at selected bookstores and in Givenchy flagship stores. I think that would be the perfect excuse for a little Givenchy shopping wasn’t it for the fact that there is no Givenchy store in Belgium.

The picture itself certainly has a religious vibe to it. You wouldn’t believe Carine Roitfeld is actually 57.  Another thing that is hard to imagine, at least by the look of that photo, is that she actually has a body to match her floating head. I’m just kidding, it’s a beautiful and inspirational picture and it has even become the new background on my cell phone.

Rumour 1: Carine Roitfeld is starting her own clothing line! If you ask me, the perfect name for a brand. I can actually hear people say: “I bought a Roitfeld.” It does sound very chique.

Rumour 2: Carine’s getting her own reality show.
Either way I’m very curious about all her future projects because I believe that in the past she has done some amazing things. Hopefully we’ll get more news soon.

Inspiration via http://www.vmagazine.com/2011/04/book-of-god/ and http://www.iwanttobearoitfeld.com/, picture via http://www.iwanttobearoitfeld.com/

The Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala 2011.

Yesterday evening Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg addressed a crowd of over 800 guests with the following: “London might have the royal wedding, but we have this.”, “And this ticket is harder to get.”, “And never mind the Oscars, this is the international best-dressed convergence of the year.” Well that is exactly what the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute Gala was. As the Vogue website stated, the gods really do still walk amongst us.

“The gala—a mix of beautiful reverie and high culture—was this year celebrating the opening of the new exhibition “Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty”—a look at the life and work of the visionary designer.”

“Savage Beauty, an exhibition devoted to the British designer, set his often incendiary oeuvre against a lyrical, emotionally charged backdrop, including a replica of a 30-foot oak tree in the Great Hall, reminiscent of those on McQueen's property in Sussex, England.”

Apparently the museum was redecorated into a beautiful and romantic English garden, covered in wildflowers, garden roses, towering trees and hedges that were popping up in the hall. The guests were summoned to the dinner that included artichoke, poached quail eggs, American caviar, Highland beef, and spring vegetables to the sound of bagpipes. Florence and the Machine held a special performance after dinner. The night ended at the new, not yet opened, hot spot, Crown at the Upper East Side.

Designers attending included: Tom Ford, Stefano Pilati, Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino Garavani, Riccardo Tisci, Olivier Theyskens, Alexander Wang, Tommy Hilfiger, Diane von Furstenberg, Vera Wang, Peter Dundas, Giambattista Valli, Christopher Bailey, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein…

Initially I felt like I would select some looks and comment on them, but now that I have chosen 48 looks from the 131 pictures on style.com I think it’s best if I keep my opinion to myself (well obviously I’m going to discuss the outfits with my lady), I believe it would affect the sheer grandeur that oozes from this glorious designs. Everybody is entitled to his/her opinion, so I’ll let you all decide for yourselves what outfits you like.

I based my selection on the reactions it provoked in me. Some of these designs I find simply breathtaking and therefore they are my favorite looks. Some just struck my notice because I liked the silhouette, the fabrics, motives, details, the fashion-is-fun-feeling they generated. Some I included because I just couldn’t skip the person…Basically there’s always a reason.

Be sure to check out: http://www.style.com/peopleparties/parties/thumb/redcarpet-050211_Costume_Institute_Gala/ and http://www.vogue.com/parties/met-gala-2011/ for all the red carpet and party pictures.

François-Henri Pinault, in Alexander McQueen, with Salma Hayek, in Alexander McQueen, with an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Daphne Guinness, in Alexander McQueen, with Alexander McQueen shoes.

Alasdhair Willis with Stella McCartney, in her own design, with Cartier jewels.

Sarah Burton, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Anna Wintour, in Chanel Haute Couture, with Bee Shaffer, in Balenciaga.

Tom Brady with Gisele Bündchen, in Alexander McQueen, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels.

Madonna, in Stella McCartney, with Cartier jewels.

Livia Giuggioli, in Stella McCartney, with a Roger Vivier clutch; with Colin Firth, in Tom Ford.

Naomi Campbell, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels and an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Jay-Z; with Beyoncé, in Emilio Pucci.

Aimee Mullins, in Theyskens' Theory, with Pomellato jewels, with Olivier Theyskens.

Sarah Jessica Parker, in Alexander McQueen, with Fred Leighton jewels and a VBH clutch.

Blake Lively, in Chanel Haute Couture, with Karl Lagerfeld, in Tom Ford.

Gwyneth Paltrow, in Stella McCartney, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Natasha Poly, in Alexander Wang, with the designer.

Hamish Bowles, in Alexander McQueen

Vera Wang, in her own design, with Mario Grauso.

Jennifer Lopez, in Gucci, with H.Stern jewels.

Florence Welch, in Yves Saint Laurent, with designer Stefano Pilati.

Anna Dello Russo in Alexander McQueen.

Gilles Mendel, with Taylor Swift, in J. Mendel, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and Christian Louboutin shoes.

André Leon Talley. (I believe in a Ralph Rucci Cape.)

Nancy Shevell with Sir Paul McCartney

Natalia Vodianova, in Valentino, with (my beloved) Valentino Garavani.

Jason Wu with Diane Kruger, in a dress by the designer, with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels and a Jimmy Choo clutch.

Ashley Greene, in custom Donna Karan, with Lorraine Schwartz jewels and a Leiber clutch.

Naomi Watts, in Stella McCartney.

Michelle Williams, in Miu Miu, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Dee Hilfiger and Tommy Hilfiger, both in his designs.

Penélope Cruz, in Oscar de la Renta, with Chopard jewels and a Roger Vivier clutch; with Oscar de la Renta.

Georgina Chapman, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels; Keren Craig, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels; Josh Duhamel, in Calvin Klein Collection; and Fergie, in Marchesa, with Harry Winston jewels.

Jennifer Hudson, in Vera Wang, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Cindy Sherman, Consuelo Castiglioni, Anouck Lepère, and Giovanna Battaglia, all in Marni.

Elle Fanning and Dakota Fanning, both in Valentino.

Rolf Snoeren and Viktor Horsting, in Viktor & Rolf Monsieur.

Liu Wen, in Alexander McQueen; John Demsey; and Constance Jablonski, in Alexander McQueen.

Christina Ricci, in Zac Posen, with Fred Leighton jewels. (I must say that I do not like this dress, but she makes the mermaid silhouette work, and that is quite an achievement.)

Sofia Vergara, in Carolina Herrera, with Harry Winston jewels.

Ginnifer Goodwin, in Topshop Unique with Van Cleef & Arpels jewels, a Kotur clutch, and Aperlaï shoes.

Kirsten Dunst, in Chanel Haute Couture, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Demi Moore, in Prabal Gurung, with a Philip Treacy headpiece, Cartier jewels, and Christian Louboutin clutch.

Evan Rachel Wood, in Gucci, with Fred Leighton jewels.

Iman, in Stella McCartney, with Fred Leighton jewels and a Kotur clutch.

Mick Jagger, with L'Wren Scott, in her own design.

Kristen Stewart, in Proenza Schouler with Fred Leighton jewels, with designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez.

Renée Zellweger, in Carolina Herrera, with Neil Lane Jewels 

Coco Rocha, in Alexander McQueen, with an Alexander McQueen clutch.

Renée Zellweger and the beautiful back of the Herrera Dress.

All inspiration and pictures via http://www.style.com/ and http://www.vogue.com/?us_site=y

Thank you Anna Wintour for yet another wonderful Metropolitan Museum Costume Institute Gala.