Customer Reviews

Chanel: Collections and Creations

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I have all of the biographies, novels and museum exhibition books published about Chanel in the past twenty years. This new book is a treat for both Chanel lovers and fashionistas.

Author Daniele Bott takes five central themes - the suit, the camellia, jewelry, fragrances, make-up and the LBD (little black dress) and sends us on a journey from the first showing of each item through its many reincarnations. You see how many times designers and the Chanel House itself has re-imaged Chanel creations from over a century ago.

There are over 159 illustrations - 101 of them in color. Many of the photographs have never been seen before and were taken by the greatest names in fashion photography.

My favorite two page spread features a display of the different Chanel buttons used on suits over the years. Another features Chanel fitting Ingrid Bergman in her Chanel suit for a scene in Tea and Sympathy. There are pictures of her original make-up packaging (Chanel thought about travel sizes in make-up long before anyone else), and her push up lipstick created in 1926. Imagine a 2-page spread sea of red Chanel lipsticks or an exclusive, entirely hand crafted logo makeup brush with 16,000 silk strands and the double C logo in the middle.

Chanel was famous for mixing costume jewelry with the real thing and costume jewelry designers (most notably Joan Rivers) have made their fortunes with variations of her original Maltese cross and faux pearl designs.

Every single photo exudes the Chanel style of understated elegance and luxury. For over a century, CoCo Chanel and now Karl Lagerfeld have kept the look and its history alive. This book carries on that tradition.

I also highly recommend:

Jacques Helleu and Chanel by Jacques Helleu which features over four decades of Chanel print ads and commercials.

I see this book has been almost universally praised. Much as I hate to be almost the sole dissenting voice, I have to say I found the book quite lightweight in regards to the many years of history of Chanel collections, and basically, just a long advertisement for Karl Lagerfeld's reinvention of the Chanel product(s) line.

Since I find most of KL's innovations for Chanel somewhat tacky and hit-or-miss, I didn't enjoy this very much.

Chanel: Collections and Creations is an utter delight from cover to cover. The book itself is beautifully presented, printed on heavy stock and bound tightly. Unlike some other "coffee table books" I've bought, it feels like it was made to last. This book is a real treat for both the casual and dedicated fashionistas alike. Images are gloriously rendered both in full color and crisp black and white. The full page shot of the iconic camellia brooches and the section dedicated to the Chanel suit were particular highlights. A number of photographs are so detailed and well shot that you almost feel you can reach out and touch the clothing and jewelry pictured. I can highly recommend this excellent resource - even for those with a mere passing interest in the house of Chanel. A very happy addition to my book collection.

I agree with the 'lone dissenter' that this book resembles more an ad or catalog of Lagerfeld's Chanel products. What is interesting is that compared with the classic Chanel shown (1920s-1960s), Lagerfeld's interpretation looks more like rags on crack addicts. Just a brief browse brings forward how utterly classless and meaningless fashion has become. It is a sad trip. It's a shame the Chanel house didn't fold when Coco died, that way her wonderful creations would have remained intact. This book just reveals the debasing of a giant without her permission. I think she'd be quite horrified at where her line has gone. These waif crystal meth girls with bruised eye makeup look like they've just upchucked in the john and are ready to go another round before being found dead in the morning. The few actresses bring a bit of class to their duds but they like most new celebs really aren't anything to remember. Don't pay full price for this! Wait for someone with taste to bring out a tome dedicated to cataloging Coco's creations as they ought to be--the ones she had a hand in creating.

Of course, Gabrielle, Gaby, Coco...all Paris is here. The couture, the perfumes, the hats, le style. Many colors and many memories. I love this book.

I would not say that is the most comprehensive book of Chanel fashion but it does provide a good snapshot of the iconic work of the Chanel fashion house including clothing, jewelery and accessories.

The first thing that captured my eye with this book was the cover & the stunning photographs inside. The classic camellia so beautifully associted with a fabulous name Chanel. The book was purchased as a present for my Sisters 21st who loved & adored on receiving. It is a gorgeous gift that I knows she will have for years to follow. Thank you xoxo

A great book for all CHANEL FANS! I love it. I love the pictures in it. The way the subjects are treated is very interesting and the pictures are great in it too.

This is a really nice book about Chanel, it is not a comprehensive source, but rather a visually beautiful overview depicting Chanel's collections over the years. This book has high quality photos and this is the main attraction, and there is also enough text to put the various creations into their historical and social contexts. The strength of the book lies in the fact that it brings Chanel's most famous creations into one source with stunning illustrations. Highly recommended for Chanel's lovers and would make an excellent coffee-table book.

The exquisite fabrics, trims and cuts are superb. This beautiful book showcases Chanel's masterpieces so wonderfully.
The treasured white Camelia cover alerts the reader of the beauty and luxury within each page so much so that one can study the pages and learn new aspects of Chanel's magnificent designs over and over again.
A joy to own.