Chanel (Hardcover)

~ Francois Baudot (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A 3 volumes slipcase illustrating the history of the most famous brand of the world. Titles are: Chanel; Chanel Jewellery; Chanel Perfume. Chanel: More than any other designer of her time, Gabrielle Chanel had a genius for perceiving not only what would work in contemporary fashion but also what would last. Yet Chanel was a true adventuress, always on the cutting edge and sure of her likes and dislikes, which combined to make the 20th century look the way it did. Thus, Chanel thrives today, some eighty-plus years after the young convent-bred milliner opened her first salon. And this is in no small measure thanks to the creative talents of the chief designer - Karl Lagerfeld - who, in the paraphrased words of Goethe, "makes a better future with elements enlarged from the past."; Chanel Jewellery: One of the most visible personalties of her era, Gabrielle Chanel invented a style synonymous with modernity and chic. What is perhaps less well known is that the grande dame of 20th-century fashion also worked with silver and diamonds to create an exceptional collection of the finest jewelry. This daring experiment is currently a new source of inspiration for Chanel, which through its fine jewellery store on Place Vendome in Paris, is once again demonstrating the fine art of creating and wearing great jewellery. The adventure is both classic and contemporary, in keeping with the tradition of one of the great names of the 20th century; Chanel Perfume: "A woman who doesn't use perfume doesn't have a future." Pithy like a magic formula, the words fell from the lips of Paul Valery to be collected by Gabrielle Chanel to summarize the stakes of the battle. She needed a counterpoint to the little black dresses and cascades of gems that commanded the style of Chanel. No 5 was the first perfume to mix animal and plant extracts used in traditional perfume with synthetic products. Its birth truly led to a "before" and "after" in the world of perfume, which was no longer an inspired alchemy, romantic and volatile, but pure research. In this way, No 5 perpetuates the charm and influence of the type of personality attracted to this perfume, like bees are attracted to flowers.

About the Author

A regular contributor to Elle and Elle Decor magazines, Francois Baudot (Chanel & Chanel Jewellery) is the author of several books, including monographs on such designers as Elsa Schiaparelli, Thierry Mugler, and Yohji Yamamoto; Fancoise Aveline is a journalist for Atmosphere and Maison Francaise magazines, mainly for their Perfum-Beauty and Art-de-vivre headings. She has written several books for luxury brands, including Chanel.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 80 pages
• Publisher: Assouline Publishing (November 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 2843235189
• ISBN-13: 978-2843235184
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.5 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #690,256 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a keeper, June 11, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Chanel (The Universe of Fashion) (Hardcover)

To a die hard Chanel fan, this may seem a rudimentary account of Gabrielle Chanel's accomplishments. However, there is no discounting the concise yet impactful way the information is presented to the reader. Baudot is not afraid to acknowledge the evolution of the CHANEL name to the entity known today,the most viable independent fashion house of this century. She discreetly recognizes Karl Lagerfeld for breathing new life into Gabrielle Chanel's classic designs.The magnificent photos and drawings are reflective of this progression and provide the reader with a visual timeline.As with the entire "Universe of Fashion" series, this book is definitely a keeper. These books make a great addition to any fashionphile's library.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Strictly a Picture Book, July 11, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Chanel (The Universe of Fashion) (Hardcover)

Skip the text in this little book. Instead, read the jacket notes. There is no new information about Mademoiselle Chanel and the already well-known history of her life is so obtusely written the text seems like an outline of a romance novel.
This is a book to own only for the archival photographs and the "select chronology" of Coco's fashion house that still thrives--some 25 years after her death. Snapshots of some of the male influences in her life finally put faces to names. However, a photograph of her best friend, Madame Misia Sert, is noticeably missing and should have also been included.
Interspersed with the photographs are whimsical montage illustrations by Karl Lagerfeld, the current design director of Chanel. There are also a few photographs from modern advertising campaigns epmphasizing, even more, that this is not a must-read

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A true fashionista's keepsake in need of more material, December 3, 2004

By	ChloeDoc24*7 (Vancouver, BC., Canada) - See all my reviews

I for one was thrilled when I found this three volume set on the bookseller's shelf despite being on the very thin side. There are clean reprints of some of the most iconic images of Coco Chanel and well chosen advertising images of the recent last thirty or so years. These of course include photos of the achingly beautiful spokesmodels Carole Bouquet, Catherine Deneuve and Anna Mouglalis for Chanel's various products. I am happy to have bought the set but I really wish there had been far more pictorial material. I am certain Chanel's archives are far more plentiful and the books left me wanting much more. I have not been able to find an adequate Chanel book that is still in print but this set will do for a start since it was bought at a discounted price. The written material is simply succinct and perhaps that's best. Fashion shouldn't be overanalyzed anyway.