Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Enjoy the weekend and I hope you get some good deals on Friday! I’ll be back on Monday 
Illustration by Danny Roberts
November 24, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving!
November 23, 2010
Chanel Pop-Up Shop in the Meatpacking District, NYC
Once a retail experience left for guerilla brands like Comme des Garçons or brands that don’t have actual retail locations, the pop-up shop is the retail experience du jour. Pop-up shops are popping up all over – and now Chanel has joined the fun.
To celebrate the release of its Côte d’Azur Cruise Collection, Chanel has opened up shop in the Meatpacking District of New York City inside a section of Jeffrey New York. The feel of Saint-Tropez and its signature Café Sénéquier have been recreated inside the 1,000-square foot space. The café’s iconic red laquer tables and umbrellas are featured alongside “red Chanel awnings, dressing rooms that resemble beach cabins and stands stocked with postcards of Chanel’s cruise campaign featuring Georgia May Jagger.” (WWD).
“We loved the experience of the show, and we thought, How can we create the kind of a moment in New York,” said Barbara Cirkva, division president of fashion, watches and fine jewelry at Chanel Inc. “I don’t think of it as a pop-up shop, but almost as an installation that recreates the magic of Saint-Tropez in New York, and gets everyone in the mood as they are thinking about going away for the holiday.”
The pop-up shop carries the Côte d’Azur Cruise Collection as well as a selection of men’s ties and J12 watches. The boutique will host a party on November 30th and will remain open through January 4, 2011. If you are in NY, you should definitely try to stop by and pick up a free postcard! I wonder if Chanel will start having more pop-up shops in the future…we shall see.
Source: WWD
November 19, 2010
Chanel Links: 11.18.10
- Show Studio has a sneak peek of the Spring 2011 collection – I love the details especially the ladybugs! ShowStudio.
- Karl says who he’d like to take his place at Chanel via WWD:
In an interview in Numero’s November issue, Lagerfeld replied: “I have a contract for life so it all depends on who I would like to hand it to. At the moment I’d say Haider Ackermann.” Lagerfeld has recently been enamored of Ackermann’s fashions, and had invited him to attend the most recent Chanel show. Ackermann reacted by saying, “What can one possibly say to such a phrase?! Such a compliment! Honored I feel, how can one not be?! In all honesty tremendously, immensely touched especially coming from Monsieur Lagerfeld.”
- Nail artist extraordinaire Sophy Robson got an early look at the Chanel Spring 2011 polishes, Black Pearl, Pearl Drop and Peche Negree. Sophy Robson Blog.
November 18, 2010
Karlisms: “Facebook is a flawless object”
Imran Amed, the Founder and Editor in Chief of the Business of Fashion, interviewed Karl Lagerfeld for The Luxury Channel during the International Herald Tribune’s Heritage Luxury Conference. In the interview Karl Lagerfeld states that “Facebook is a flawless object.” I’m not sure he knows what Facebook is, but I think Uncle Karl is pretty flawless
Source: The Business of Fashion
Chanel Fine Jewelry in Elle Magazine
I saw these gorgeous fine jewelry pieces in this month’s issue of Elle Magazine. I’m drooling.
Source: Scanned from Elle Magazine
November 17, 2010
Collection Côte d’Azur: The Chic Shades of Saint-Tropez
A while back we got a preview of Riva – the new must-have limited edition nail colour. Now we see the four new limited edition Rouge Coco Lip Colours: Sari Doré, Perlé, Taffetas Rose and Chintz. The Collection Côte d’Azur is available now online and in select stores.
The Secrets of the Handbag – Part 3
In the last part of my series on the Secrets of the Handbag exhibit (if I can’t get a hold of that fabulous video!) I’ve scanned the program that they were giving out to attendees. The info details the seven steps to constructing the Chanel 2.55 handbag and the history of the bag.
November 16, 2010
Secrets of the Chanel Handbag – Part 2
The Secrets of the Chanel Handbag exhibit made its first stop in San Francisco this past weekend. The first part of the exhibit explored the process of making a Chanel 2.55 handbag. The other part of the exhibit highlighted vintage pieces. When I heard that vintage pieces would be on view I was expecting a lot more than they actually had on display.
The vintage display was only in one of the store windows and featured two mannequins dressed from head-to-toe in vintage Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel. The pieces were amazing and my favorite by far were the clear/black rain boots with chain stirrup detail in the back – TO-DIE-FOR! The gold quilted guitar case wasn’t so bad either. Check out the photos below of the window displays and detail shots of the vintage Chanel pieces from the archive.
November 15, 2010
Sneak Peek: Chanel “Mimosa” Nail Colour Spring 2011
Just caught a glimpse of this sneak peek on the web… apparently Chanel is releasing a new “must have” Le Vernis Nail Colour for Spring 2011 called Mimosa. The shimmery bright yellow color is like a burst of sunshine…er, or champagne with a bit of orange juice for your nails. Word of the street is that Mimosa will be available in April 2011 – stay tuned for details.
Source: Mayzing Merique
Secrets of the Chanel Handbag – Part 1
This weekend I went to the Chanel boutique in San Francisco to see the Secrets of the Handbag exhibit, which highlighted how the most iconic handbag – the Chanel 2.55 – is made. The exhibit was on the second floor of the boutique and featured a row of seven mannequins with video screens hanging off of them. Each video screen was encased in a black leather quilted cover complete with chain strap – very reminiscent of the bag the exhibit was celebrating. Alongside each mannequin was a display that highlighted a step in the process of manufacturing the Chanel 2.55 handbag.
If you’ve read this blog then you know that I am DYING for a Chanel 2.55 handbag (black leather lambskin – not caviar thank you very much). I enjoyed seeing each step of the process and it shed a bit of light (just a little) on why those bags are as expensive as they are.
Gabrielle Chanel was a perfectionist and she paid attention to every detail in the manufacture of her bags. Each bag has certain steps that can only be done by hand – white gloved hands that is. Learning about the history of the 2.55 and how it is made gives us a glimpse into the mind of the long-gone couturier.
Please see below for each step in the process (apologies for not getting step 3 – there were people standing in front of it and I forgot to go back 
). Images of the vintage Chanel pieces in the store windows and scans of the program soon to come.
