Wherever I went in New York last week, I saw publicity for this exhibition...
Chanel and the Little Black Jacket
Sadly, I missed it as I was getting ready to fly out of JFK just as it was getting ready to open, but the website and associated media have more than compensated for my bad timing.
I adore black jackets – I think I have a 10 of them in the wardrobe (which I rarely use now I'm freelancing) – and so I loved seeing the images from this exhibition, which celebrates one of fashion's most classic pieces. Something I've always wanted (and search for whenever I'm in Paris) is a vintage black YSL tuxedo jacket. But I think they're as rare as sightings of Karl Lagerfeld...
Doesn't Daphne Guinness look fabulous in her black jacket?
I love her French cuffs, and the lace headpiece.
This is Anna Wintour. She seems rather shy about showing us her black jacket? But look at the precision of that bob! It's as straight as that ribboned hem.
Uma Thurman looks beautiful, as always, in her black jacket and Elizabethan collar.
The doorman of the Gramercy Park Hotel told me she lived directly opposite the hotel, and he often spotted her. I tried to catch a glimpse of her in Gramercy Park but I think she's heavily pregnant to Elle Macpherson's ex, Arpad Busson, so she's probably sitting with her feet up somewhere. I'm sure she's just as beautiful as she is here, even with no make-up and a dressing gown on while she waits for baby no. 3 to arrive.
Georgia May Jagger looks very French in this photo. Not sure whether it's the Monica Belluci-style lack of apparel, the tussled bed hair, or the cheeky bra? She's almost chanelling this beauty, right here...
The inimitable Jane Birkin.
Look at that irrepressible smile. She still has it, doesn't she?
Both the exhibition, which is currently touring the world (See thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com for details) and the accompanying book are a collaboration between Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld, both of whom took the photographs. If the exhibition comes to your city, do go and see it: it's meant to be well worthwhile. And if you can't, just look at the website for some wonderful fashion inspiration!
PS Here's an authentic black Chanel I found on eBay for $800. It perhaps needs some soft shoulder pads for form and I'd maybe lose the belt and replace it with a thin black one, but it's definitely a good buy for that price. Perhaps I should discard my dream of a YSL tuxedo and settle for a classic Chanel number instead?
PS I must apologise for being rather low-key at the moment. I know I haven't replied to your lovely comments and I'm so contrite. There's rather a lot happening here and I'm struggling with juggling everything. Think: Jetlag combined with a terrible flu I picked up in Sydney, combined with packing up a big house to move (settlement is in 2 weeks: no rest for sick souls around here!), combined with troubles and worries within our family, and finally reconciling the fact that my mother-in-law might have to come and live with us, which curtails any plans to move OS.
But there is always a bright side to life. And I'm thankful for the many lovely things in our life.
I just hope you can bear with me while I catch up on correspondence, comments, and well, life itself!
Good luck with the move and the mother in law. I wish I owned a Chanel jacket x
ReplyDeleteThanks FF! And thanks for the rest of your thoughtful comments too. Hope the baby is feeling much better. How are the book ideas coming along? I've been coaching Slim Paley too. You glamour pusses really do need books of your very own! J xx
DeleteOnce...I owned a navy blue Chanel jacket and I wore it until the elbows went through....then I still wore it at home!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the packing and moving I do hope you have somewhere nice to go too!! xx
Oh, that jacket sounded beautiful. I've always wanted a navy Chanel Jules. I think I may have owned an authentic Chanel once but the label had come off (I bought it at the famous Pandora vintage store in Knightsbridge). And you never can tell with bouclé. It could have been from China!
DeleteThanks for your kind wishes. Lovely to hear from you again.
xx
Oh dear - flu +jetlag + house move + mother in law moving in doesn't sound great! Good luck, and hope that at least the flu & jetlag passes fairly quickly.
ReplyDeleteI'd love a Chanel jacket. They are very classic, and a little more understated than the only Chanel thing I own - a belt with enormous buckle of CC logo with CHANEL written across it incase you missed what it was. I bought it in the late 80s, so that would explain it! I can't wear it anymore, it makes me feel far too ostentatious...
Hi Gorgeous Heide,
DeleteWe hope to come to Adelaide soon, so would love to catch up! I saw your kind comment on Tabitha's blog. Thank you for your lovely support.
That belt sounds hilarious. I have lots of Chanel jewellery, but much of it consists of CCs so big, they'd substitute for anchors on the QEII!
xxx
Doesnt Uma look like a thirties movie star? Hope all works out at your end, it all sounds incredibly stressful
ReplyDeleteMmm, I love Uma smr. I SO hoped to see her in New York (she had her baby shower the night I was lingering in Gramercy Park), but no such luck. I think all the celebs who live on tiny GP (Julia Roberts, Karl Lagerfeld, Jennifer Aniston) are ultra-private, and don't flounce around the park for rubber-necking tourists to gawk at!
DeleteThanks for your kind wishes; things have improved since last week, thank goodness!
xx
I think a Chanel jacket would be a nice addition my wardrobe, but highly unlikely!
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear you are sick and have house moving and family issues all to deal with at the same time.
Mmm, I can't justify the price either Claire! I think it's the hype of the brand that hypnotises me? They ARE beautifully made, with up to 100 panels of fabric to give them their exquisite shape. But still not sure if they're worth $5000?!
Deletexx
Your life is full at the moment Janelle...there is no question about that! Wishing you good health, a speedy recovery and the strength to tackle those obstacles in your way. I love your take on the black jacket...you and Vicki are thinking along the same lines. You could pair up your posts quite nicely. I love the jacket you found on e-bay...I think it would be a keeper. I am imaging cream silk palazzo pants with it...but then again, they would look great with the YSL tuxedo jacket. Tough one!
ReplyDeleteTake care Janelle....and thank you for stopping by, always lovely to hear from you. :)
Jeanne xx
Hi Jeanne, I imagine my life is very quiet compared to your move to Vietnam. Best wishes with it. I'll be thinking of you.
DeleteAnd palazzo pants sound bew-ti-ful with that black jacket. I love that look. Very St Tropez.
xxx
Well they say it never rains but it pours, but perhaps it is more of a deluge in your case at the moment! Good luck with keeping your spirits up with all that is happening. Even though some of it sounds bad, other parts sound exciting and dynamic, so I hope it all falls into place. With sanity retained!
ReplyDeleteI came across a vintage YSL tux recently in my travels - can't remember in which shop it was though - but it wasn't even expensive - sadly wasn't my size. I wish I could remember where I saw it because I would send you out to grab it!
Love black, most of my wardrobe is chock-a-block full of it. Love colour too, but always come back to black with a sigh of satisfaction.
Hi Glamour Drops,
DeleteAnd the Melbourne winter doesn't help much either...! But we'll get through. Thanks for your lovely comment. So nice to know people are thinking of us.
How amazing that you stumbled across a vintage YSL tux? I saw a YSL exhibition in Paris a few years ago, with all the version of the famous tux in one room. It was incredible. Surprisingly, nobody was there. I did think of slipping a few into my handbag, but of course the fashion gods would be watching and my aesthetic karma would be ruined for life! xx
Oh Janelle, I'm so sorry to hear how stretched you are at the moment. I hope you can rest up a little and recuperate. Another divine post. My fave is the first with Natalia Vodianova. J x
ReplyDeleteThank you dear Jane. Hope your wrist / carpel tunnel is improving by the day. I love the Natalie pic too. Aren't the white flowers beautiful?
Deletexx
Definitely too much on your plate right now. Hope you find a little time for R&R in all of this craziness. Love a black jacket and no one does it better than Chanel...what a dream piece!!
ReplyDeleteHi DesignChic, I think we're all struggling with life and winter at the moment. It's obviously that time of year in Australia...
Deletexx
Dear Janelle
ReplyDeleteYour life is so complicated right now. No wonder your health is suffering - make sure you take a little time out for R and R despite all the demands of your busy schedule. Don't worry about replying to comments when you're so busy!
This is such a wonderful post on black jackets. One of my friends had the Chanel smoking and the black pants years ago. She wore it with a white silk shirt and a full blown red rose (a real one) -it looked fabulous.
Just one thing to add, your reference to your mother-in-law suggests that perhaps you have now had that secret wedding. If so, congratulations! And try not to stress over all you have to face. It will work out and the difficult things will pass. Best wishes, Pamela
Hi Pamela, I was actually fine until I landed in Sydney where the flu virus is epidemic. One hour at the airport and that was all it took!
DeleteLove the idea of a black tux with a white shirt and a red rose. I always loved Oscar de la Renta's white lace dress with the red rose.
And no, we haven't married. We will soon, but I am Dragging. My. Heels. (!) It's just easier to say mother-in-law. And yes, it's all rather complicated. But that's life all over, isn't it?
Do hope you're still having a marvellous time in Europe. Am enthralled at your comments whenever I see them - here or on other blogs.
xx
Dear Janelle
DeleteThank you for your reply especially given your challenging work/life commitments at present.
Yes, we're still loving our travels. This part, our 3 weeks in Paris, is pretty much the last stage of the trip, apart from a few days in Singapore on the way home. Now not so lookng forward to arriving home to the flu epidemic, though can't wait to see the family.
This is the week of our 43rd wedding anniversary. Darling husband decided we should do something every day this week to celebrate. Yesterday we had lunch at La Closerie de Lilas, very romantic, Roederer champagne and there was a pot of miniature red roses on the table. Since we were following in Hemingway's (and many other writers'/artists') footsteps dining at this restaurant, we ordered the Beefsteak Hemingway, flambed in bourbon. A lovely day. On Thursday, we're having lunch at the Grand Colbert, for the experience, though we've read less than enthusiastic reports of the food (including your own) - so we'll see. Friday we're taking the tgv to Lyon for the day as it's been many years since we were last there. Tuesday and Wednesday not fully decided but may go to Cafe Louise, kindly recommended by Fraussie in her blog about life in France - and in a response she provided. So I guess we're very lucky after all these years and in these difficult times to be able to spend such a happy occasion here in Paris.
All the best for all the things you have in front of you in the next few weeks. Pamela
On second thoughts, I think the smoking was YSL. Cheers, Pamela
ReplyDeleteCertainly one of our favourite topics, Chanel on Janelle XO
ReplyDeleteOh, how sweet! Do you know, whenever I visit friends in Denmark, they can't pronounce "Janelle" and say "Chanel" instead. Just quietly, it gives me a little thrill. I don't like to correct them, of course. That would be rude.
DeleteThanks for coming to the Chanel party.
xx