STATE YOUR IDENTITY THROUGH GABRIELLE “COCO” CHANEL
“I’ve decided who I want to become and become what I wanted” – Coco Chanel
Gabrielle Bonheur “Coco” Chanel is one of my favourite fashion designers and businesswoman in the world for more reasons than her beautiful sartorial creations. It is her disposition and attitude towards life, love, business and remarkable personality that drew me into her being.
She was without a doubt, the most rebellious woman in fashion, who stood her ground and unapologetically did exactly what she wanted. Her extraordinary business wit and commanding character both drove her brand and set her apart from her peers’ time to time. It’s no wonder that she is the only fashion designer listed on Time magazine’s list of the most influential people of the 20th century.
Which brings me to why I am so elated about the brand’s new product offerings. The prominent French fashion and beauty house is turning a new chapter to honour and celebrate the brand’s heritage with historic releases.
Earlier this year the brand’s creative director, Karl Lagerfeld introduced the world to a new collection of It-bags under the name “Gabrielle” on the Chanel’s spring runway – their first new bag release in 6 years. Simple and ingenious, the bags are a design marvel with pleasant aesthetics of modern Chanel yet loaded with Coco Chanel’s temperament, – subtle, functional and elegant. They are available in an array of styles from quilted backpacks, shoulder bags, daring studded totes and youthful bucket backs and multitude colourways – subtle, functional and elegant.
On the 4th of July, A-Listers flocked the Palais de Tokyo in Paris as the luxury powerhouse unveiled its new fragrance also named “Gabrielle” – the first creation by the in-house master perfumer Olivier Polge since his take over from his father. This is the brand’s first major perfume creation in 15 years.
“Gabrielle” adds to a list of timeless and loved fragrances like the iconic Chanel No 5 and the delightful Coco Mademoiselle. Describing the scent as an “very floral, solar, luminous, feminine” Polge made sure to construct a fragrance that is imbedded in the ethos of Coco Chanel. “She thought that fragrances also needed to be constructed. I think it tells a lot about the way we create fragrances at Chanel. We take time and we have to craft, to design our own raw materials. What is more important than trends in my position at Chanel is always to play with what makes a perfume a Chanel perfume.”
Based on the reviews from the privileged few who’ve managed to indulge in a whiff of the scent already, Gabrielle Eau De Parfum has been described as feminine, airy with traditional Chanel’s white flower accords topped with hints of fresh citrus, blackcurrant sandalwood. It is in a new sleek and chamfered bottle that allows its subtly golden colour to radiate through.
Chanel has held several grand presentation and launch parties for Gabrielle Chanel perfume across the world ahead of its official market release on the 1st of September 2017.
Chanel’s favourite muse and actress Kirsten Stewart has been appointed as the face of the Gabrielle line, both the bag and fragrance. In a new campaign posted by the brand on Instagram Stewart appears alongside other house muses and ambassadors including music producer Pharrell Williams, model Liu Wen, photographer Mario Testino. Stewart, who has been an ambassador for Chanel since 2013 embodies the spirit of Coco Chanel and has appeared in a number of Gabrielle Chanel short films.
With the Gabrielle Parfum, the brand does not only want you to smell fabulous but most importantly help every woman affirm their identity, find their rebellious spirit and passion through “Coco” Chanel’s world – whom the scent was inspired by. So, go ahead and say it with me “First Name: Gabriel. Last Name: Chanel. Personality: Rebellious. State your identity”
