Chanel – The Making of a Collection
|
|
Product details:
|
The little book of Chanel
"This monograph on Coco Chanel chronicles the life and legacy of one of history's most influential couturiers. From her early days of millinery, through her revolutionary inventions in sportswear and jersey fashions for women, the classics that have made her name, such as the Chanel cardigan jacket and the little black dress, to the global empire of the brand under the helm of Karl Lagerfeld, this beautifully illustrated book offers a fascinating account of Chanel's evolution and innovation. Detailed photographs and sketches of her designs, along with fashion photography and catwalk shots, pay tribute to one of the world's most highly regarded fashion houses and the woman behind it." (Carlton Books Ltd.) |
'Femmes fatales' is a coffee table book pur sang
The book was published by Waanders Publishers in Zwolle, the Netherlands in collaboration with Gemeentemuseum in The Hague, the Netherlands. The book was part of the exhibition: "Femme fatales, strong women in fashion" in 2018-2019. The book is bilingual, Dutch and English. Unfortunately, the translator is not listed.
The book is a large format book and is very beautiful because of the layout, photos and the mix of photos and text. It contains essays and interviews with the big names in the fashion world such as Coco Chanel, Jeanne Lavin, Elsa Schiaparelli, Fong-Leng and Agnés B. Some of the interviews are quotes from interviews from the past.
The photos are a collection of photos from the history of fashion through to modern fashion photos, which are like fashion photos should be: striking, creative and above all very unique. And a coffee table book like this should be, because the content will never get boring and the book is a real eye-catcher.
Strong women in fashion
The essay: "From pioneers to Boss ladies" is really worth reading! Women fashion designers were pioneers and did not have an easy time in a world dominated by men. For a long time, the women were called "seamstresses", even though they were the designers and their collections were very good. The fashion world has long been strongly gendered.
Still, a few women managed to become designers and to become "leading ladies" of the fashion houses. This was not only due to their talent and ambitions but also because they approached fashion in a different way than their male competitors. They respected the female body more and took their curves as concept. Coco Chanel is a good example of this: her famous jacket was mainly designed with the idea that women could dress beautifully and move easilly. These times, comfort in outfits was not a priority at all...
"Only a man who never was intimate with a woman could design something that uncomfortable"
Coco Chanel about a Dior dress ...
Women in the fashion world are also increasingly activists these days. They are spokesladies of women's rights and speak explicitly about politics. A good thing because where influence can be positive, it is only a big advantage. Think especially of the fashion world now, which especially emphasizes that everyone should vote! And as for mouth masks: we saw them early on the catwalk, as a fashion accessory, while most people are still getting used to the idea of wearing them.
Goodbye gender stereotyping!
Finally, it is noted in the book that it will be great if, now and in the future, the ideal is pursued that the whole gender story is not an issue anymore. There is no distinction at all in creativity between men and women. Given the history of the fashion world, which for centuries has been dominated by men, this will be a wonderful achievement.
The book Ladies, A Guide to Fashion and Style is a 2002 edition, a translation of the book "Die Lady, handbuch der Klassischen Damenmode" by Claudia Piras. It is a 2002 edition; it surprised me because the book looks more published in the eighties. This is mainly due to the photos, texts and old-fashioned layout. Personally, I suspect that the photos are mostly from older advertisements whose copyrights can no longer be traced. This explains why this book, which is only 17 years old, looks a lot older and can also regularly be found in thrift stores or second-hand on bol.com. (The new editions are also for sale, of course, so you can be sure that the book is intact and no notes have been made in it.)
Timeless classics
For women who are loving the timeless, classic fashion (brands), this book is a nice manual or, frankly, a lot of background information. Of course, we don't really need a manual to dress ourselves stylishly, because with the classics, which are discussed in detail in the book, you will never go wrong....
Classics are always good
And even if you would wear for a fancy twinset, above jeans, a trench coat and a pair of nice sneakers underneath, not to mention a beautiful Hèrmes Birkin or Chanel bag, it looks really always good… Eighties, 2002 or now! It doesn't matter, these fashion classics have proven that they can be there and will stay.
What are the classics actually?
The association of "classic" fashion often has something old-fashioned. We immediatly think about a woman with a knee-length plaid skirt, plain sweater over it and blouse underneath. Flat shoes and a hair clip….
Fortunately, this book shows that the image of classic fashion is really a lot better and more modern than the fussy prejudice. From casual to outdoor clothing, from sportswear to beautiful sneakers.
Timeless "classic" is fashion that is not subject to the speed of commerce but has proven to last for more than a few decades. Some items even become "Collectors items" over the years, such as Aigner's famous Chanel bags, Cartier watches, Hèrmes scarves, Barbour wax coats and gloves. So many more examples in this book, without it becoming annoying advertising.
We really like this book because of the beautiful classics and background information, but also because it shows that fashion can be timelessly beautiful. No woman has to follow fashion to look good. Buy a few basics and you can vary endlessly. Moreover, you don't need much at all. A pair of nice coats, shoes, jeans, sweaters, a handbag and nice quality gloves and you can go for years. Some items even last a lifetime. Get rid of waste, get rid of cheap junk that is broken after three washes. The underlying thoughts of timeless fashion is a great approach.
Fur - no!
The only downside, as animal lovers, are the pages about fur. The photos are outdated, as is the text. Fur is no longer a status symbol and looks rather cheap than chic.
This beautiful red almost square book with glossy pages, could be even better in a new edition with a slightly more modern tone. Green, durable, timeless classics that don't even have to be expensive, but 'just' good. I am sure that this book will be loved by many, and not only my generation (in their fifties) but also younger generations who also like to go for timeless - sustainable - ladies' fashion.
Ines de la Fressange est la plus belle Parisienne
Everybody knows Ines. For years she has been the model of Chanel and she has also collaborated with other great designers. She lives and breathes the splendid style of a Parisiènne. She is now in her fifties but still very attractive and style is her middle name. Is she born with it or did she learn how to dress and behave the Paris way of life?
How to become a real 'Ines'?
Someone must have asked Ines: “Hey, please tell all women about your style and beauty-secrets. How can you be so beautiful your whole life? How do you always dress so tastefully? How do you become such a casual and chic woman of French allure? In other words: how does someone become a Parisiènne? "
Great taste with capitals
The style guide was born. Ines took her camera and photographed her (equally stunningly beautiful) daughter, running through Paris in the casual style that is so typical for a Parisiènne. She took her pen and wrote all her clothing style and beauty secrets on paper. Ines also picked up her colored pencils and drew fun, funny drawings of herself, the clothing and beauty products. Finally, she also wrote down all her favorite shops, restaurants, coffee bars and places to go out and turned them into collages for this book.
And here we have: a nice style guide for women who admire both Ines and Paris. Ines also gives useful tips for mothers with children: feel free to take your children with you during a weekend shopping in Paris.
The style guide is beautiful designed and nice to read. Nice tips alternate with rather obvious tips ("Blue eye shadow: a wrong move if you want a natural effect"). The translation is sometimes a bit weird, but the beautiful photography and her tips are more important to us.
The target group is from young to 50+. This age group is well served because there are a lot of tips in the style guide for ladies who are as old as Ines but want to look just as young as Ines. Sometimes a bit obvious tips: "Don't use glitter eye shadow because it only makes your wrinkles shine?" But yeah, some things cannot be said enough.
Personally, I like this one: “Tip: Sleeping or making love for an hour is better than a Botox injection from the dermatologist.” Ines always looks happy, radiant and looks a lot more natural than many of her generation of former ex-models. Is sleeping or making love her secret? ;>)

The book by Ines de la Fressange (in collaboration with Sophie Gachet, fashion journalist from the fashion magazine Elle) is a New York bestseller. After all, Paris has always had the image of style and class that is proportional to the ladies from Paris. Paris First!
We only spot the tourists walking in the streets of Paris with shorts, sneakers and baseball caps. Ines or the daughter of Ines are always walking on ballerinas or loafers and always dressed in the style that is so typical of a Parisian lady. Such as: casual, nonchalant, never overdone and slim as a rake. How do they do that, you wonder, but now you know...
Size "Petite" or just Bon appetite ?!
It is though still difficult. We want to look as radiant and slim as a real Parisiènne. But at the same time, we want to visit all those wonderful looking restaurants, cozy coffee shops and have a delicious croissant breakfast on a daily base, (Chapter 4: Bon appetite!) during a wonderful weekend of shopping in Paris ...
Creative Community:
We are a non-profit sewing-community. We are sharing information, sewing pattern-reviews, book-reviews and lots of sewing guides for sewing-beginners and advanced seamstress.
Categories:
All
Accessories
All About Chanel Couture
All About Sewing
Back In Time
Bags Are Beauties!
Best Buys
Chanel & Styling Books
Cosplay
Couture Books
Couture Classics
Fantastic Fabrics
Guest Writers
Holiday Series & Gifts
LARP & Fantasy
Now News
Photography
Product Reviews
Sewing Inspiration
Sewingpatterns Reviews
Sewing Tools
Sustainable Ideas
Tips & Tricks
Pardon my English
This website is made by Dutch people. English is not our native language.We are sorry if there are language errors or imperfections...
Archives
March 2025
February 2025
January 2025
December 2024
November 2024
October 2024
September 2024
August 2024
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
December 2023
November 2023
October 2023
September 2023
August 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
November 2022
October 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
June 2022
May 2022
April 2022
March 2022
February 2022
January 2022
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017