CHANEL’s new ambassador and spokesperson, Charlotte Casiraghi, embodies the house’s DNA in a way that very few people on the planet could. Being Grace Kelly’s granddaughter and eleventh in line to the throne of Monaco has given her rare access to the world of high fashion. Karl Lagerfeld himself inducted her into CHANEL’s inner circle when she was still a teenager and therefore, as she likes to put it, it is almost as if she was “born with CHANEL”.
Charlotte’s first ads for CHANEL’s spring campaign were shot in Monaco, with a cosmopolitan backdrop emitting magical vibes of old European glamour and luxury. Charlotte in CHANEL manages to combine classic elegance with a modern edge and an alluring kind of audacity that only a true royal could employ in such a balanced and showstopping way. Tweeds, leather, stripes and logos work harmoniously together, attesting to a versatile mood that follows only one rule: that of natural stylishness.
Charlotte’s collaboration with CHANEL goes beyond the field of fashion, though. Her degree in philosophy and her love for literature are two bonding elements, resulting in a spiritual connection between her and Gabrielle’s and Karl’s legacy. Les Rendez-Vous Littéraires Rue Cambon is a project -soon to be launched by Charlotte and Virginie Viard- that aspires to bring female writers and actresses together for a series of intellectually stimulating sessions. Culture, social phenomena and feminism are CHANEL’s creative tools for a progressive future. We cannot wait for what is coming.
For the well-trained eye, a CHANEL fashion show is not only about clothes but also about its intricate, fine jewelry. Both Gabrielle Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld placed great importance on jewelry design and made sure their shows presented a well-rounded image of fashionable women. It was this kind of dedication to detail that gave us some of the house’s most emblematic stylistic elements, like the Byzantine-inspired creations and the layered pearl strands.
The Susan and Karl: Important Chanel Fashion Jewelry from the Collection of Mrs John H Gutfreund Christie’s auction comprises more than 100 rare, handcrafted CHANEL pieces from Susan Gutfreun’s personal collection. Susan, a dear friend of Karl’s, famous for her lavish lifestyle and love for fashion, is an Upper East Side socialite who, during the ‘80s and ‘90s managed to acquire some of the most impressive CHANEL jewels directly from Lagerfeld. These pieces, mostly one of a kind, were crafted exclusively for the fashion shows and never made it to full production.
Rhinestone and glass pendant earrings, a Gripoix glass necklace and brooch, oversized faux pearl and resin earrings, and countless more epic items channel a lush and nostalgic flair, reminiscent of a time when fashion used to be as extravagant and maximalist as possible. CHANEL’s travel through time is an interesting study in social constructs, which tells a lot about fashion as a cultural work in progress.
Diary
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Charlotte Casiraghi for CHANEL is the essence of royalty