The faux-wrap skirt is a piece of art and looks inside as good as it does outside. The quilted skirt-lining is very comfortable. The faux-wrap concept allows the wearer to walk easily without restriction.
Combined with the Cardigan Jacket, we are now able to make our perfect couture designer suit in Chanel-Style ourselves.
In conversation with literary historian Fanny Arama, ambassador and spokesperson for the House Charlotte Casiraghi invited writer and friend of the House Anne Berest to examine the figure of girls in literature, through a tribute to the work of Anne Wiazemsky. Actress and CHANEL ambassador Alma Jodorowsky opened the discussion with a reading of excerpts from "Jeune fille" by Anne Wiazemsky, and "Sagan 1954" by Anne Berest.
The video in french language. Please leave a comment below the video: English subtitles please! Holiday series with creative suggestions,
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Product details:
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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 ...
"Fashion is not an art, it is a job" Coco Chanel
Did you know that Coco Chanel was not only very different from most designers, but that she also worked very differently? She did not design on paper and did not have a sketch book. Unlike her successor, Karl Lagerfeld, who designed ALWAYS on paper.
When Coco Chanel started her fashion house, she actually had very little couture sewing techniques. She had taught herself almost everything herself and worked mainly from her feeling and instinct. She had a great sense of how fabrics could be draped around the female body.
Nice lady or a demanding lady-boss?
When she founded her Fashion House and became more and more successful she got assistants and employees. She passed on her instructions verbally and came across as compelling and very demanding. Her models were also not always happy with the job, they sometimes had to stand for hours until Mrs. Chanel was satisfied. (and she was not easy to please)
Coco Chanel is often associated as an unkind woman who only went straight for her goal and used people to be successful.
In the movie "Coco before Chanel", we learn a lot how Gabrielle started her career in the fashion world. She knows how to move up through stubbornness and opportunism. She knows how to enter the world of the chic ladies through a big (rich) friend. This friend later became her big sponsor and he owes her success largely.
But let's take a closer look at everything.
Coco Chanel was a passionate woman who had a goal in mind. Her dream was unusual for the time. She did not want to get married and have children, but started a business and influence the world of the rich and the famous. There would be nothing wrong with that today. People would admire her and knows what it takes to work day and night at a goal in life.
There were few women at the time who chose careers, who could take the opportunity to build this up and persisted at all.
If Gabrielle had lived in our time, her 'character' might have looked or judged very different.
Coco Chanel would have Social Media to create influence, she could probably found money or sponsors in other ways and maybe she would have been a great candidate for Dragons' Den.
It is bad to be unkind, opportunistic and driven? Not at all. Coco Chanel got her success and she earned it by working hard and having creative and completely new ideas about Fashion, exactly in the right time when women needed something new and inspiring.
Anyway, we wish Coco Chanel, still retroactively, its success. And whether she was unkind or not, she has created a Fashion label that still matters. Perhaps she would never have succeeded if she hadn't had her 'bitchy' qualities.
Either you love it or you hate it
Who likes prints? Most people love it. From tropical flowers to a 'tiger print', it can't be colorful enough. Especially in the summer we are crazy about to prints. It makes us happy and it looks great as a blouse or summer dress.
But read Ines de la Fressange's books and one thing becomes very clear: prints are NOT DONE! According to her, you will not easily find a real Parissiéne dressed with 'a print'. The Parisian style is more about the monotonous colors, the creative combinations of trés-chic and elegance of the timeless classics.
If we want to look stylish but occasionally deviate from the 'rules', then combining a Chanel-style jacket (self-made of course!) With a print underneath is definitely a nice idea.
Who says that this can't look be chic and casual at the same time? Bouclé and tweeds, but also summer tweeds, are often very busy in terms of appearance. The fabrics are woven and there is always a beautiful mix of colors and sometimes even patterns.
A blouse with a printed design underneath can easily come across as very 'busy' and a bit cheap.
Fringes, edges and prints?
Apart from that, the Chanel style is often characterized by a lot of fringes, beautifully finished trims and two or even four pockets stitched on the jacket. They should of course be the eye-catchers of your outfit.
Taking all this into account, we would like to point out that a printed blouse, t-shirt or even pants, under a Chanel jacket, is fine if you observe the following rules:
- do not deviate too far from the original color of the fabric of the jacket (see top left, blue / gray with a blue-white blouse underneath and a blue-white clutch)
- if the jacket is dark in fabric, choose a lighter print
- if the jacket is light in color, choose a darker print
- if the jacket is pale in color, choose a brighter color print, (see top right, a beige Chanel-style jacket with a brighter light blue printed blouse underneath, The dark blue in the print of the blouse is exactly the color of the buttons and the trims of the Chanel-style jacket)
- if the jacket is bright in color, choose a calm print don't make it too colorful
- choose either a printed pants or skirt, or a blouse, both are too much, this also applies to a printed dress
- do not use too many accessories; limit jewelry, bags, scarves or hats
Prints will never go out of style and occasionally combining with them may not be 'Paris' chic, but again not as 'not-done' as suggested in many style books and guides on Chanel couture and Parisian style.
We love prints ... occasionally.
For those who can read it: herby the book review and hopefully you will enjoy it anyway...
Book review
We read and see how Coco Gabrielle Chanel built her empire through her unusual and renewed style. She created outfits for women that were stylish but above all gave the woman more freedom to move. The hats were practical and minimalistic, and the corsets were banned. Coco designed clothes for the modern woman who was not standing still in life but on the move, perhaps working (this was very unusual at the time). Her choice of colors, minimalist style and specific accessories such as the famous Chanel 2.55 handbag are still very popular and expensive 'must-haves'.
Little people big dreams
This is a series of books written by several writers and illustrated by various illustrators. The covers are colorful and have very nice illustrations. But above all, it stands out because of the famous names on the covers of the books. Great people in our history, like: Coco Chanel, Maya Angelou, Agatha Christie, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Frank, Jane Goodall, Simone de Beauvoir and Mother Theresa.
Fashion designers, style icons, writers, feminists, nature activists, war heroes and so on.
But men are also included: Stephan Hawking, Martin Luther King Jr., David Attenborough, Rudolf Nureyev, Muhammed Ali and many more. In addition, series have also been made, available in nice collection boxes: 'Women in science', 'Women in art' ... and there are card games. coloring books and posters.
Never heard of it? Almost impossible. From now on, the books will suddenly catch your eye in the bookstore, and it may become your 'Quilty Pleasure' to collect them.
"Discover the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began as a child with a dream."
Quilty Pleasure
The illustrations are wonderful. Colorful, cheerful and just amazing. The lyrics are easy, to the point and great fun to read to children. Summarizing someone's life on 12 double pages is clever and inventive. The illustrations not only supporting the text, but are largely the story itself. It is almost impossible to introduce a child to a character from history in a better ways than these little books.
".... and being different might make other people think differently too. That's why everone now remebers the young Gabrielle as the great designer, Coco Chanel."
But we have a different idea for you.
To feel a bit of spring in Paris, we recommend a few nice books.
Enjoy the beautiful photos, the terraces, the beautiful boutiques and especially all the tips and tricks to be stylish as a Parisian!
Everything will pass, and sooner or later we will enjoy Paris even more than ever.
Paris je t'aime ...
How to be Parisian wherever you are
How to be a Pariessiene
Read our review. we absolutely loved the movie because of it styling, the wonderful clothes and the story. Just enjoy the movie and get inspiration for sewing a Chanel-Style jacket. We are very sure you won't regret.
This is the objective of the International Women's Day, which we at SewingChanel Style fully support.
We therefore wish every seamstress, designers, fashionata, Chanel-lovers, bloggers, shopowners or co-stasr, artists, workshopowners and all those other thousands of women we have not mentioned, a nice day!
Read more about ALL (women) people behind the Chanel couture:
Chanel: The Making of a Collection
Chanel – The Making of a Collection
Text by Laetitia Cénac
Illlustrations by Jean-Philippe Delhomme
we love this creative, beautiful illustrated book
and we will tell you all about it.
(Couture) sewing books
Book Reviews: valuable sewing books
Chanel, Chanel-couture, fashion and couture books
Karl Lagerfeld, the person behind the fashion icon
As a Chanel lover, I could not let this book pass me by. After all, Karl Lagerfeld has for many years been the brain behind the Couture house Chanel and ensured that Chanel did not fall into oblivion but became an unprecedented - timeless - success.
Karl: I try to bring Chanel style evolution by thinking of Goethe's saying: "create a better future by building on the past."
The designer liked to quote philosophers and writers. He was a well-read person and owned a few hundred thousand books. Karl was a great talent with a big ego and a completely own created image.
Quote or be quoted
Karl (German by origin) started his career as a fashion designer in Paris around 1955 and it didn't take long before he became known and was quoted himself. His statements were always surprising, testified by great intelligence, but could also be hard and offensive.
Such as a false remark towards an actress, who he thought was "too fat".
Or a kick in the back of Ines de la Fressange (who turned his back on him after many years of collaboration). Not so nice... He was therefore a complex person, let's just say it, because we also know very well that statements by famous people are often pulled out of context and start to live their own life.
A savant idiot
Karl Lagerfeld was a genius with a vision. Like his friend Yves Saint Laurent, he was able to design clothes that the whole world loved for decades. He was hyper intelligent and had a sense of style, beauty and art. However, his intelligence made him difficult as well. Apart from all this, there were more things by Karl Lagerfeld that did not make him a beloved personality. His extravagant life also disappointed many people. Spending a fortune on a cat, deliberately not wanting children (supported by yet again 'surprising' statements) and living a life of extreme excess and opulence ... It made him as cold as his flawless appearance.
Read after all, get inspired and enjoy
However, this book was an eye opener for me. It is so easy to judge a person by his or her image. But you can only understand what lies behind an image, if you take a look behind the scenes.
Laurent Allen-Caron has made this book a simple, truthful and easy-to-read book. Laurent is a journalist himself and you notice that as a reader. He writes briefly and forcefully and stays close to the facts. His sources and notes are carefully mentioned.
The quotes make the book lively, as if you hear Karl talking. The book causes a smile here and there, for example:
"At the end of the sixties, fifteen years after his arrival in Paris, the press could finally spell the name Karl Lagerfeld flawlessly."
To Karl or not to Karl?
I just wonder if Karl Lagerfeld would have been happy with it... The book is compact, not too thick (240 pages) and is sober.
Karl probably would have preferred a thick, heavy coffee table book, full of photos, luxury and extravagant photos of his creations and himself ...
But there are more than enough of those books too. I love this book. This book is an honest and well-written portrait of an impressive life and man Karl Lagerfeld.
But I am blonde and do not live even close to Paris....
read it all
read more
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