“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.”
“A woman should be two things – classy and fabulous”
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself…Aloud.”
Coco Chanel
I am a huge lover of all things French and am fascinated with the Parisian charm of the outspoken Coco Chanel, who founded the philosophy of arguably the world’s most famous fashion house. I’ve collected a few books on her and watched Audrey Tatou’s portrayal of her in Coco Before Chanel with relish. After pouring over all of the beautiful images from this year’s S/S Chanel show that took place in Paris this week, I was delighted to also find out that one of the most celebrated books on Coco’s life had been re-published with the addition of some incredible images.
Karl Lagerfeld, the larger than life caricature of Parisian chic, has lent his illustrative talents in the form of some breathtaking sketches to The Allure of Chanel, a book by Paul Morand. This book has been around since 1976 and was received enthusiastically by critics on its release as it tells the story of the woman who founded the label by delving inside the designer’s mind.
Morand wrote the book from the privileged position of being a close friend of Coco after meeting her in a hotel in St Moritz back in 1946. Sharing her inner most thoughts and philosophies with the writer, meant Morand could write Chanel’s own thoughts on everything from her direct opinions, her musings on romance and her thoughts on her most famous fashion creations.
“Chanel is France’s greatest figure… the most impetuous, the most brilliantly insufferable woman there ever was.”
Paul Morand
It’s safe to say this revised book from Pushkin Press will be top of my Christmas list this year and if you or anyone you know is a fashion lover, make a note! See below for some of my favourite illustrations from the new issue, which you can buy HERE from 24 October.
(Images courtesy of Pushkin Press and illustrated by Karl Lagerfeld – full set of images available on Vogue.co.uk)
