Coco Avant Chanel

I watched a wonderful movie last week about Chanel's
life before her fame and fortune. I really enjoyed it.
The movie gave some insight into the early years of
Chanel's life and really hits home just how far ahead of
her time she was when it came to fashion, comfort and
easy elegance. She, was a very elegant woman.

Audrey Tautou (from the movie
Amelie) plays young Chanel.

Here's a side by side photo of Chanel and Audrey Tautou.

Some stills from the movie. Can you imagine how eccentric
people thought she was for wearing mean's clothing? You
must remember that Gabrielle Chanel was born in 1883
and became 21 years of age around the turn of the century.
Women back then did not simply strut around in men's
clothes.

Alessandro Nivola plays the love of her life who was Arthur "Boy" Capel.
Both "Boy" and Chanel had other lovers as well but Boy seemed to be the
one that Chanel loved most. Boy also financed her first shop in Paris and
she borrowed greatly from his closet for inspiration. Since 99% of the
movie is in French, Alessandro had to learn French for the movie.
Alessandro is an American actor who was born in Boston. He is very
dashing and appropriately intense in the movie.

Coco Chanel with Cecil Beaton in 1937.

This was the only real picture of Arthur "Boy" Capel
that I could find. He was an English Polo player who
was also a politician and self made businessman.

I really love this image from the movie as it
depicts Chanel so elegantly in her workspace.

This is a very old photograph of a very young Coco.

Chanel always had this way of mixing masculine
and feminine style together effortlessly.

All of her portraits are just stunning. Not in the flat out
sexy feel that Marilyn Monroe had but a true kind of
elegance, chic and just plain coolness.

Back then, it was chic to smoke and Chanel definitely
smoked A Lot. Many of her famous portraits and
photos show her with a cigarette hanging out of her
mouth - even while working and pinning models.
Now that I think about, I don't see many photos of
her without a cigarette in hand.

I love this portrait of Coco. It's a very unique angle that
shows off her profile. It was either a popular angle back
then or Chanel just really knew how to pose. I think Chanel
really knew how to pose...I'm not sure I've seen a bad photo
of her.Another photo of young Chanel.

This one with short wavy hair. She cut her hair at
a time when short hair wasn't fashionable. During
the 1930's, you had the "flappers" era of daring and
forward women who bobbed their hair and wore
short skirts. Chanel cut her hair before it had come
into fashion.

Chanel with a straw hat - straw hats that
she brought into fashion for women.

Love the netting. She crossed her arms a lot -
like a man. I don't imagine it was considered
feminine for women to do it back then.

What a cool looking pose. She's like the epitome
of cool. The female version of James Dean.

I love this candid photo of her. She just always
looked so relaxed - very much so in her own skin.

Chanel: Her Style and Her Life

I think this this book is one of the best books about
Chanel as it combines her life story with beautiful
photographs of her, her life and and her work. It's
a bit pricey but well worth it if you're looking for an
informative and beautiful book about Chanel.

In the past, I've blogged about Coco Chanel's apartment
above her flagship store and her suite at the Ritz in Paris.
Check them out if you're interested.

Coco Chanel's Paris Ritz Suite Part I

Coco Chanel's Apartment Part II

Chanel's 2007 Campaign - Keira Knightly

Photos from the UK's Guardian, Getty
Images and various Google Image sources.

Holiday Mantels

If you have a mantel, what do you do to it during the holidays?

Louis Vuitton - Art, Fashion and Architecture

"About this Book

Luxury and art have never been more closely linked than they are in these early years of the twenty-first century. Virtually all the world’s major luxury houses have associated themselves with contemporary art through sponsorships, commissions, or foundations, and these points of exchange nourish the increasingly symbiotic relationship between fashion, art, and other design disciplines. Of all modern luxury brands, Louis Vuitton can claim to maintain the richest and most varied associations with the world of art. Included in this volume are Louis Vuitton’s important collaborations with an elite group of artists, architects, designers, and photographers, such as Jun Aoki, Shigeru Ban, Vanessa Beecroft, Olafur Eliasson, Zaha Hadid, David LaChapelle, Jean Larivière, Annie Leibovitz, Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Stephen Sprouse, James Turrell, Inez Van Lamsweerde, and Vinoodh Matadin. The book is structured as a seductive anthology of the house’s most visible collaborations. Critical essays examine and position Louis Vuitton’s patronage—under the guidance of Artistic Director Marc Jacobs—during one of the most fertile periods of contemporary art and design.

Praise

"At a whopping 400 pages, including three book-in-books, "Louis Vuitton: Art, Fashion and Architecture" is a rich brew of all the house's creative associations..." ~Hint Magazine

"Many style books are compendiums of ad campaigns. Louis Vuitton's revels in the collaborations of Marc Jacobs with Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince and Stephen Sprouse." ~InStyle Magazine

About the Author

Marc Jacobs is the Creative Director of Louis Vuitton Malletier and the chief designer of Vuitton’s ready-to-wear collections."



LINK

It's a problem, but a good one...

I think I might be a Christmas decoration 'junkie'. I know I need to stop buying baubles but every time I see anther pretty little thing I just feel an overwhelming need to have it. My willpower deserts me, the jolly decorating demon grabs hold and I succumb. All those practical thoughts of 'enough is enough' escape me. That old dog of an idea that last year's decs are perfectly fine for this year just doesn't cut it. Of course I need another one to complete the picture, finish the tree properly and spread all that love and good cheer. 

I have been collecting Christmas decorations ever since I can remember and they have been my way of marking moments. I can glance at any of them and know where and when I found them. They conjure up memories of my family and our travels and they remind me of my childhood. It has always been my tradition to mark each passing year with an addition.....

I guess there are worse problems... xv

image - carla

Woodn't it be Nice

I love white rooms with wood - floors, furniture, mirrors and other beautiful wooden things.  It's such a lovely combination and looks wonderful in every room of the house.


Image 1 - here Image 2 - Country Homes & Interiors Magazine Image 3 - Inside Out Magazine Image 4 - Homes & Gardens Magazine Image 5 - Notebook Magazine Image 6 - here

Love .... Pouffes

Image 1 - here Image 2 - Easy Elegance (Atlanta Bartlett) Image 3 - here Image 4 - Graham & Green Image 5 - John Lewis Image 6 - Not on the High Street Image 7 - SCP

A Virtual Baby Shower!

Michele, of My Notting Hill was sweet and creative enough to organize a virtual baby shower for one of the sweetest bloggers out there, Lauren of Pure Style Home who is having a baby very soon. Several bloggers, including myself came together and selected gifts for Lauren’s baby complete with personal sentiments.

I couldn't be more excited about the fact that Lauren's family is growing and she will soon be welcoming another sweet baby into her home. She has always been so gracious and is one of the kindest bloggers I have had the pleasure of knowing. Everyone knows that Lauren has great style with a bit of a European flair, so I thought one of these sweet alphabet prints from Bibity would be ideal for the new baby. Not only do they speak to Lauren's design sensibility, but I personally love them because of my background in foreign languages. If it's a girl, Lauren can hang the pretty French Alphabet poster in the baby's nursery and if it's a boy, she can go for the more masculine-looking Italian Alphabet print. Either way, I am sure both the baby and the nursery will be beautiful! Congratulations, Lauren!

 

To see the other gifts Lauren “received”, click here.