Blake Lively for Chanel

Ever since Blake Lively was confirmed as the latest face of Chanel back in January, we’ve been waiting to catch a glimpse of her first ad – and now it’s finally here.

The release was cleverly timed to coincide with the new Autumn/Winter 2011 show today in Paris, and sees the Gossip Girl showcasing the new Mademoiselle handbag.

And of course, the image was shot by Karl Lagerfeld himself.

Donning a luxe feathered dress, the ad shows Blake posing up against a split mirror, with her reflection gazing back into the camera lens, the covetable quilted arm candy on her shoulder.

It’s no secret that the actress had been gunning for a Chanel campaign for some time.

‘I had other opportunities and I would say, “Thank you so much, but I am holding out for Chanel. That’s who I want to be the face of,’” she told The New York Times in a recent interview.

‘And people would say, “Well that’s unrealistic, they only hire Europeans,” and I said: “Well how great. I’ll be the first  then.”‘

Chanel Fashion Show in an airplane

Keira Knightley in Chanel Ad

Last year, Chanel released the full version of a television commercial for a perfume that features Keira Knightley riding a classic beige 1973 Ducati SuperSport 750 in the streets of Paris, France. Keira’s motorcycle gear includes a matching beige Ruby helmet and motorcycle suit—a great café racer look. Watch the full television commercial below to see a beautiful woman on a classic Ducati café racer.

Chanel Athletics

It’s still cold outside but our glossies will soon be featuring the best of what’s to come this spring and summer. Chanel just released their Chanel Athletics Spring-Summer 2012 Campaign Shot images.  The campaign features Saskia de Brauw and Joan Smalls as the best dressed gymnasts ever, was styled by Carine Roitfeld and shot by Karl Lagerfeld.

This is the second Chanel campaign styled by Carine Roitfeld but these shots are not as whimsical as the campaign featuring Freja Beha. The Chanel Spring-Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection was inspired by the sea, so not surprisingly the sea is prominent in most of the photos. The campaign was shot at the Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc in Antibes, France – the location of the Chanel 2011/2012 Cruise Collection.  The photos are beautiful and represent the simplicity and elegance that is the Chanel brand.

Karl Lagerfeld interviews himself!

This is a really fun and well done interview! Bravo Karl!

New shortfilm by Lagerfeld

Fashion designer and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld has directed a short silent film for the fashion house featuring Alice Dellal to promote the new Chanel Boy handbagllection.

Dubbed “My New Friend Boy” the short film comes on the heels of the massive success of silent movie “The Artist”. The short film features British model/rocker Alice Dellal dramatically dressed on a quest for a Boy bag with the only sound coming from dramatic piano music.

Chanel released the short film to promote their new Boy handbag collection and Dellal adds a touch of rock & roll to the campaign, with dreadlocks combined with her signature ripped tights and leather outfit.

The new line of chanel handbags are based on a hunting cartridge style originally carried byCoco Chanel herself. The Chanel Boy bags are made to embody the androgynous charm the designer was known for.

Karl Lagerfeld said, “Chanel used man’s underwear to make dresses; she had this boyish attitude, in fact it is the very spirit of chanel. She got it from Boy Capel, the great love of her life, which, incidentally, explains why the new bag is called the Boy Chanel.”

Available in a pared-down palette of red, grey and ivory, the glazed calfskin clutches, purses and totes range from $2500 to $4300.

Chanel Details Video – a new Chanel blog entry

A Chanel Christmas Vision

This year, Chanel have taken over the entire storefront of Printemps, that grand dame of the Parisian department stores on Boulevard Haussmann, for Christmas.

And given my adoration for all things Chanel, it was a given that a visit to the grand department store would go straight to the top of my Parisian ‘To Do’ list when I found myself in Paris the week after the unveiling of the windows.

And oh, what a fantastical vision these holiday windows are!

Within each of the 12 windows, Karl Lagerfeld has brought to life twelve miniature Chanel worlds – one for each of his favourite places (one can presume).

Some, such as those dedicated to Paris (where miniature Karl Lagerfelds swing from Parisian landmarks playing photographer extraodinaire) and Moscow (where tiny ballerinas leap and twirl and pirouette to the soundtrack of the Ballet Ruses) just invite passers-by to press their noses against the window to see the puppet show unfold. Others, like the Tokyo (Thunderbirds–esque puppets sailing past the Japanese skyscrapers in futuristic flying cars) and Los Angeles (where Pan Am pilots smooch the primping trolly dollies) will simply make you giggle out loud.

Each of the others were new manifestations of past collections, with some my favourite items brought back from the archives. There were treasures nestled beneath a giant red dragon in the Shanghai window (I could barely pull myself away from the sequinned Chanel takeaway noodle boxes, jade dragon brooches and China doll bags), an ode to glam rock Brittania (where bags were adorned with the Union Jack), Scandanavian deer merrily wearing jewels around their necks, and scenes from a grand Ventian ball (complete with fine china, glittering frog princes and a giant crystal chandelier.

So if I make one request of you all before the year is out, it is this: should you find yourself in Paris before Christmas (a happy thought in itself), then do go to Printemps, if only to press your nose against the magical Chanel windows!

Lady Gaga in Chanel !!!

WHO: Lady Gaga

WORE: A custom Chanel ball gown.

WHERE: At the opening of Gaga’s Workshop at Barneys New York on Monday, November 21.

In typical fashion, Lady Gaga’s sartorial choice surprised when she arrived at the opening of her namesake shop-in-shop at Barneys New York. She wore the ultimate in ladylike gear with a twist: a ballgown designed to look like a classic Chanel tweed skirt suit, pairing it with layers upon layers of oversized pearl necklaces. And, like the cartoonish, pointy-clawed sculptures on display, Gaga’s fingerless gloves exposed her perfectly

Read More: 

http://www.teenvogue.com/style/blogs/fashion/2011/12/lady-gaga-is-uber-ladylike-in-chanel.html#ixzz1fkVK4IUB

Chanel at the Museum of Modern Art

Chanel and New York’s Museum of Modern Art honored Pedro Almodovar last night at the museum’s annual film benefit. “Everyone loves Pedro Almodóvar,” Karl Lagerfeld said of the lengthy guest list. “He is a genius.”

Many were thus dressed in Chanel — Sarah Jessica Parker, Anna Wintour, Elizabeth Olsen, Chloe Moretz — save a few: Lara Stone came in Calvin Klein, Joan Smalls in Tom Ford, Miranda Kerr in Peter Pilotto, and Karen Elson in Roberto Cavalli.

Chanel Fashion

Her Name is Chanel – Nikolay Biryukov captures autumn glamour with pieces from the Chanel archives worn by the stunning Anastasia Shershen for FGR’s latest exclusive. Going from sultry brunette to angelic blonde, Anastasia explores the daytime shadows with elegant gowns and intricate tops. Makeup artist Ernest Muntaniol’s smokey eyes and nude lips bring the outdoor images to pure perfection.

More portraits by Lagerfeld

FREE Chanel App in iTunes

THE LATEST CHANEL FASHION APPLICATION

Find the latest Chanel Fashion application on the iTunes^® App Store. It features the video and looks of the Spring-Summer 2012 fashion show, all Chanel News articles and contact information for Chanel boutiques.

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More Portraits by Karl

Pirelli Calendar 2011 by Lagerfeld

For more than 40 years, one of the most coveted items in the entire automotive universe has been the annual Pirelli calendar. Originally conceived as a perk for Pirelli’s sales force, the calendar came to be appreciated by all who saw it. Today the publication becomes an instant collector’s item the moment it is released. It still cannot be bought, but is rather, as tradition dictates, bestowed upon an individual deemed deserving by the Pirelli company.

To give you an idea of how valued these calendars are, a pristine version of the first one (1964) is currently being offered on eBay for $2500.  Long story short, the Pirelli calendar is a very big deal. Routinely featuring the most beautiful women on the planet, in various states of undress, the photography for the calendar is produced by the most renowned photographers in the world.

The first topless model appeared in 1972, and each year, from the very beginning, the greatest stars of fashion have taken part—epitomizing the ideal beauty of each age. Because of this, the calendars also depict how the image of femininity has evolved over the years.

For 2011, fashion designer/photographer Karl Lagerfeld was tapped to produce the images. Settling on the theme of mythology, for the first time, the calendar includes photographs of male subjects as well. The first couturier to be involved with the Pirelli calendar in this way, Lagerfeld also created special accessories and jewels for the occasion.

The 36 photos that make up the 2011 Calendar show 24 different subjects, including gods, heroes and myths. The actress Julianne Moore is featured as Hera, Queen of the Gods. Lagerfeld has ‘sculpted’ these photos, both in terms of their aesthetic and the recurring references to the art of sculpture and its classical tenets. All of the photos are in black and white, which gives them three-dimensionality through the careful use of light.

The 2011 calendar was revealed in Moscow on November 30, and sadly, if you didn’t get one already, odds are you won’t.

Lagerfeld designed crystal for your home

Karl Lagerfeld-Designs-for-orrefors

Karl Lagerfeld is a designer who hasn’t ever limited himself to just clothes. His portfolio includes designing of travel ware, Coca Cola Bottles, safes, and cars and even helmets. Now he has decided to team up with Swedish glass makers Orrefors, to design a collection of crystal that will see items like bowls, vases; wine, water and liqueur glasses and, champagne flutes. The brand, best known for its presence at the Swedish Royal Palace tables will create the collection of hand-blown glass artifacts in “black, milky white and clear crystal, some engraved with the designer’s initials”.

Also a part of the collection is a series of monogrammed coasters that the creators describe as a means “to prevent any trace of an errant drop on an immaculate tablecloth.” That is quite a complete set, don’t you think? Visit the Orrefors website fro pre-order details.