Book: Chanel, The Vocabulary of Style

Have you ever noticed our side bar section called On my shelf? Well, if you said no, it’s time you give it a try. In this section of Love Happens blog, we regularly post our suggestions of must read books from very diverse themes. From fashion, to interior design or simply the uncovering of protraits of desire, On my shelf portrays the real bookshelf of Janet Morais herself and her KOKETs. So whether you’re looking for an entertaining read for the Spring Break or an extensive but delightful biography of Rose Cumming, be sure to take a sneak peek at our bookshelf first.



Today we add one more fashion bible to our bookshelf: Chanel: The Vocabulary of Style. Written by Jérôme Gautier, it is not a light book to carry with you this Spring Break, however, if you can just slip it into your luggage when no one’s looking you’ll have the best time of you life this Spring at the beach reading about the thrilling life of the most influential fashion designer, perhaps of all times. It is no secret we admire Mademoiselle Gabrielle Chanel, is it? So trust our choice, we are loving it!



Book description:

Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel (1883-1971) was undoubtedly the most influential fashion designer of the 20th century. Her clothes and accessories have remained perennially chic, and her legendary fashion house continues to exert a powerful sway over today’s designers. Jérôme Gautier tells the story of Chanel’s iconic style through hundreds of images, many taken by the leading lights of fashion photography, including Richard Avedon, Gilles Bensimon, Patrick Demarchelier, Horst P. Horst, Annie Leibovitz, Man Ray, Helmut Newton, Irving Penn, and Ellen von Unwerth. This innovative volume pairs classic and contemporary photographs, placing fashion plates from Chanel’s time alongside those by the house’s designer-in-chief, Karl Lagerfeld. For instance, Cecil Beaton’s portrait of Chanel appears alongside Lagerfeld’s image of Cate Blanchett emulating her, and a classic plate by Henry Clarke flanks an arresting shot by Juergen Teller.

Through these dazzling photographs, Chanel: The Vocabulary of Style identifies key elements that have defined Chanel’s style for generations, such as jersey and tweed, formerly considered menswear fabrics, and the little black dress, which transformed a hue previously reserved for mourning into a statement of elegance. Pearls were her staple, and she often embellished outfits with her signature camellia. Eleven chapters compare the original forms of these enduring trademarks with their later expressions over the years and to the present day, letting the vocabulary of Chanel’s style speak for itself.

Via Amazon