Chanel Metiers d'Art 2008

05 December 2008

Chanel's one-off annual Metiers d'Art show, which celebrates the rare skills of the artisan craftsmen who work on the house's collections, always holds one of the most eagerly-anticipated slots on the calendar and Paris-Moscou, Karl Lagerfeld's offering for 2008, proved quite the highlight of a busy fashion year.

Boasting Marianne Faithful and Diane Kruger (in Chanel, but of course), on its front row, the catwalk teemed with opulent Tsarinas in an homage to Coco Chanel's love of the country and its great influence upon her aesthectic.

By Leisa Barnett

Coco The Movie Star

11 December 2008

THE fashion pack were treated to more than just show last week as Karl Lagerfeld unveiled the annual Metiers d'Art collection for the house of Chanel with his very own mini biopic of the legendary designer in the shape of a silent black and white movie, Paris-Moscou.

"I love silent movies; dialogue is reduced to a minimum. I like images, something you look at. They're short and easy to understand," said Lagerfeld of the film, whose cast comprised Chanel employees - with sound stylist Michael Gaubert receiving the loudest cheers from the crowd as he made his on-screen appearance.

By Jessica Bumpus

Chanel Speaks Through the Ages

Whether you're heading off to a class reunion or walking the decks of a cruise ship, the little black dress is a no-fail option. Look for details that flatter your shape (strapless to show off great shoulders; waist details to optimize an hourglass shape) and pick a length anywhere from mini to right below the knee for the most versatile look.

Let me introduce!

Classic Little Black Dress

A perfect little black dress is timeless; what it lacks it up-to-the-minute trendiness, it makes up for in classic elegance.

Cocktail dressing doesn't mean you can't look edgy.

Need more coverage? This taffeta shirtdress features 3/4 length sleeves, glittery buttons and a satin sash to give you all of the elegance of the little black dress without the typi cal bareness.

Be the Best During the Parties

Between Nutcracker performances, baking cookies, school plays and doing holiday cards, there's no time to plan how great you're going to look during the holidays.

Don't worry: we've got that part covered for you.

There are 5 general mistakes you can do:

1. Wearing Too Much Glitz
   Beading, metallic and shimmer are all fine for the holidays. In fact, most women wait until a good party to break out all of the glitzy finery. But too much shine can overwhelm anyone, especially if you wear it in areas that you don't necessarily want to highlight (like a beaded chest sweater for a busty gal).
   
   
2. Showing Too Much Skin
   Thigh-high miniskirts and cut-to-the-navel dresses may look great on the runway, but in reality they are almost impossible to carry off. Not only is it possible to dress sexy while leaving lots to the imagination, it's also the best way to look your prettiest for the holidays. The secret here is to accentuate your best features with a suggestion: a lace trimmed camisole under a blazer hints at great cleavage, a small slit on a skirt gives a glimpse at gorgeous legs, a halter dress shows off toned arms.
   
   
3. Getting Caught With Nothing to Wear
   Nothing is worse than being invited to a fabulous party and having nothing to wear. By keeping a few dressy basics in your closet you can always be prepared for last-minute invitations. You can even re-wear the items and make them look totally different just with accessories.
   
   
4. Making It Too Complicated
   No wonder women approach the holidays with dread: trying to coordinate outfits, gifts, travel and parties can overload even the most organized woman.
   Instead of trying to match up dressy separates, try a little black dress this season. Not only is it universally flattering, it will take you to almost any event in style. Just add accessories and you're set.
   
   
5. Being Under or Over Dressed
   You show up in jeans, everyone else wears velvet; you wear a long dress and others wear business clothes. You're not alone if you have trouble deciphering dress codes on a party invitation: most people get confused by designations as ambiguous as "Dressy Casual" or "Cocktail Attire." A few dressy items span several categories -- such as the little black dress for her or dark suit for him -- both of which can attend everything from semi-formal to cocktail parties.
   

Source: http://fashion.about.com/od/holiday/a/holidaymistakes.htm