Coco Avant Chanel

I watched one of my favourite films this evening- Coco Avant Chanel -which translates as Coco Before Chanel. A great film to watch for any fashion lover, not just for the costumes (which are exquisite) but to get a sense of how groundbreaking Gabrielle Chanel was.

It's easy to forget how revolutionary her designs were in the world of women's fashion, when today the Chanel brand is such a global powerhouse that every collection it produces influences high street trends in one way or another. Whether it be chain strapped handbags, boucle jackets, tweed blazers, breton stripes or strings of fake pearls.

I particularly love the scene photographed above where Coco Chanel (played by Audrey Tautou) wears a tweed blazer and breton striped jersey top. I wore an almost identical outfit just last week! This comparison is made more astounding when Coco's outfit is compared to the other female characters dressed in the usual contemporary fashions- corsets, full skirts, feathers, diamonds, excess. Her style was elegant and timeless. And as she said herself....

'Fashion fades, only style remains.'