100 years of Chanel

As well as the opening of two new London stores (one in Covent Garden and another in New Bond St.), To celebrate 100 years of the brand Karl Lagerfeld has created a short film set in 1913 Deauville where a young Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel has recently opened her new hat shop and is eagerly awaiting customers.The film stars Keira Knightley as Chanel, alongside a range of models, and muses of Lagerfelds. 

I think the film gives an insight into the beginnings of Chanel, I like the way it's  shot in black and white and i feel its a nod to the brand and to adds to the fact its set in 1913. However I feel it would of emphasised the brands heritage more if the film was more French, perhaps french with english subtitles or even if the characters such as Chanel spoke english with a French accent, as i think Keira Knightley, among others, speaking in her regular voice took away from the French feel of the film.

         Karl Lagerfeld has said he designed the set, the costumes,the dialogue and the characters.  He also shot without a script, calling out lines just before the shot and encouraged the actors to improvise lines to give it a more natural feel. Unsurprisingly what really stood out were the costumes! I particularly loved Jamie Bochart as Marquise Luisa Casati, dressed head to toe in black with three greyhounds, Lindsay Wixson in beautiful high necked white lace dress, with an open back and huge black feather hat as Miss Wonderbilt and Ashleigh Good as Jacquelines Forzane, dressed in a black and white skirt suit, straw boater, pearls and a cane ( to name a few!)

The film beautifully shot  and I feel the brand still exudes the same elegance and classic as it always has.I think the youth of today still understand Chanel as an influential,sophisticated and chic brand, however I feel the film will give them an insight into the history and heritage of the brand that they may not be aware of.