Coco Chanel is one of the few designers who were able to create a cult of femininity and elegance, mystery and charm around her. She herself remained a great unsolved mystery. And, a century later, humanity is trying to unravel the secrets of her life and the riddle of the popularity of her little black dress, which has become the standard of impeccable taste.
Little black dress
Almost a century ago, a significant event took place in the world of haute couture - the recognition of a Chanel dress (the one that was small and black) as an example of femininity and the standard of a perfectly chosen style, although Gabrielle Chanel accidentally created her cult model. The reason for the dress was sad - the death of a lover.
It took only a few months for the fashion for a black dress to fly around the world. In the evening dresses from Chanel, movie stars were happy to appear in front of the cameras.
Classics from Chanel
We are all talking about the little dress that the great Coco created and demonstrated to the world. But it is not small because it is short or overly frank.
A simple cut and the color familiar to all of us is what is hidden under the word "small." The first dress, which developed a whole trend in fashion, was characterized by a semicircular neckline, narrow long sleeves and a hem covering the knees.
Modern models
The concept of a small black dress created decades ago by Chanel will forever remain unchanged, but nevertheless some changes have affected him, because modern designers are trying to adapt it to various female figures and events.
Ms. Coco did not consider knees a subject of female pride, so her dresses were not short. This situation was changed by the art director of the fashion brand Chanel Karl Lagerfeld, shortening outfits, which allowed the girls not to hide the beauty of their legs.
Another innovation was layering, which expanded the possibilities of using a cult dress for various types of figures.
The dress allowed:
- ruffles;
- drapery;
- lace;
- collars;
- sleeves of various shapes;
- color inserts.
Embroidery and a scattering of beads and pearls, sequins and rhinestones can also serve as a decoration.
Regardless of the cut and decor of the model in the Chanel style, simplicity and notes of aristocracy should certainly be present.
Long
Laconicism and severity is inherent in long dresses from Chanel. The silhouette also remained unchanged: A-silhouette or case. Transparent sleeves and a small train are characteristic of dresses.
A-Line Dress
Coco put a sense of style much higher than blindly following fashion. And she believed that a woman should prove herself and use her natural talent to create beautiful things around her.
The well-known A-silhouette goes well with lace, and the female image in this outfit is filled with tenderness and fragility. Suppose that in the original version the little black dress had a straight cut, but this personification has individuality, which allows you to skillfully revive famous images from the great Chanel.
With a white collar
It would seem that good can be obtained by combining two of the simplest things - a black dress and a white collar. But this image combines severity, style, even a little solemnity. It was these qualities that replaced stiffness and dullness.
A dress with a white collar embodies the best traditions of minimalism, the popularity of which periodically returns.
Such dresses can be worn for a variety of occasions and used as the basis for the formation of everyday style, the English image, for transformation into a lady like and visiting the office.
A black dress with a white collar with the right fit will help smooth out the extra volume in the figure.
Whites
A black dress is not the only example of a classic dress. White color was one of the most beloved for Chanel, so it doesn't bother you to add a small white dress to your wardrobe.
It can also serve as a basic outfit for a large number of images.
Blue
Chanel-style dress can easily transform into other colors and at the same time looks restrained, aristocratic and maximally feminine. Take, for example, the blue color.
Not bright, moderately saturated, dark - what is not an alternative for black color, which can overexpress skin color? A correctly selected blue will not sin.
White and black
It was the great woman Coco Chanel who introduced the fashion for a combination of black and white in women's clothing, inspired by fishing sailors.
These basic colors have always been present in the life and work of the great fashion designer, and later became a striking sign of classic, minimalism or the embodiment of simple elements in chic images.
Evening lace
A translucent effect in an evening dress is definitely a good decision on which to base a perfect look. Lightly translucent skin, framed by a laconic and moderately closed cut, radiant finish - all these moments make the fabric transform and stand out with new faces.
Lace for Chanel was not just a beautiful fabric, but the embodiment of fantasies that nature itself creates. Evening lace dress a la Chanel is not fashion, but a special style that goes through decades and is always present at fashion shows.
Such a dress does not require the selection of special accessories - shoes and a clutch - this will be enough. You can collect hair in a high and voluminous bun, which will bring a drop of vintage into your image.
The creation of cotton dresses is the idea of Coco Chanel, who very subtly felt the new fashion trends.
Cocktail
Even the most concise with a minimal decor Chanel-style dress is relevant at a cocktail party. But, as mentioned above, the dress's finish is very diverse (feathers, stones, embroidery, frills).
Therefore, a strict outfit must be left for work, and for the holiday choose a short model with a fringe of a tight-fitting silhouette or with magnificent sleeves and frills of A-silhouette.
Translucent sleeves, collars and necklines are also relevant, and even leather can serve as material for the dress. For a cocktail, a lace dress with a white collar is also suitable.
A good example is a chiffon dress with lace elements and feather decor.
Velvet blends perfectly with translucent sleeves. For a knitted model, a scarf-train becomes an unexpected element. If you want an original look - choose a model with fur trim, dare to take a bold step - choose with leather inserts.
Wedding
Gabrielle Chanel with special awe always belonged to accessories. This love gave rise to innovative outfits for brides. Their length was slightly below the level of the knees.
Dresses have always been varied and expressive: cases, curvaceous models with fitted style, long and shortened options. All this decoration was necessarily supplemented with accessories, original, unusual and exclusive.
Now Chanel's fashion house is managed by Karl Lagerfeld, who does not forget about the timeless classic and regularly includes exquisite models in its collections, combined with original styles.
Wedding models with gothic elements and classic attributes, with simple cut elements and exquisite styles became the novelties that shocked the entire fashion world.
Tweed
When the weather is raging outside the window, and you need to pull your body out of a warm bed and get ready for work, I really want to build a dress from a blanket. Although you can go a simpler way - choose a tweed dress.
The idea to create lovely warm dresses from such a crude fabric belongs to Coco Chanel. Now the tweed has become softer, more pliable, but still keeps its shape well, warms and gives comfort.
For thin people, you can confidently choose thick tweed, but girls with a full figure will be fine in dresses made of lightweight tweed material.
If you want to dilute the monotony of winter days with different outfits, buy yourself a tweed dress and combine it with different sweaters.
Dress-shirt with long sleeves organically fits into the female image of a modern woman. Stitched from thin tweed, it can even be used as a jacket. A straight cut or strict trapeze, or maybe a dress with a wide hips and a narrow hem - experiments with tweed dresses are welcome.
Another advantage of tweed is the ability to combine with various accessories, such as scarves, belts, handbags, scarves, beads and ribbons.
Ideas for secular images
Now it will be difficult for us to imagine that at the time of their appearance, a dress in the Chanel style was not everyone liked and was even criticized by many. But now every girl in the wardrobe has such an outfit, and maybe even not one. With its help, many images are created:
Retro style in cocktail version.
Retro fashion is now very popular. You can create several such images in two counts, having at hand the black dress that Coco Chanel gave us. You can use gloves of various lengths with a scattering of small, neat and sophisticated sequins. Do not want gloves, pick up large jewelry or crystals for the dress.
The embodiment of femininity
Again, we choose a classic black dress, add similar shoes and a bright element to it. It is not so important what exactly it will be - a large contrasting flower or an expressive brooch.
Socialite
Here definitely need fur. The ideal version of the mantle, even from artificial material. An alternative solution is to use a bolero.
Choose a spectacular item from jewelry that will catch your eye and rivet it to your person. Shoes are the highlight of the program, or rather the image. It should correspond to the image, stand out with spectacularity and originality.
Beyond elegance
For connoisseurs of classics, this image will be like a native. Next to the Chanel dress should be white pearls, collected in a thin thread.
Legs will need the thinnest tights that you can find, and classic shoes with a thin, high stilettos.
What to wear?
The choice of a strict classic dress requires caution and accuracy in the selection of accessories. Each additional element of your image should be related to the classics, be elegant and stylish.
In jewelry, adhere to the need for minimalism. One catchy and expressive element will be enough - if there are beads, then the bracelet is no longer needed, to the noticeable belt we choose the most simple shoes.
If you have an invitation to an important and serious celebration, then you can wear a diamond necklace for a black dress. The creator of the black dress mainly chose black hats and similar accessories.
Some especially courageous designers suggest choosing unusual shoes for a classic dress that cause controversy between fashion critics. High boots, shoes with a wide, steady heel or platform, rough boots with laces and even louboutins. Coco obviously would not like all this, but the choice is always yours - to be a supporter of a strictly classical style or to choose bold, flashy images.
A few final touches that relate to makeup and perfume. Discreet facial cosmetics and pastel colors, perfect, neat haircut or laconic styling without flaws - this is the only way to complement your versatile dress.
Black tones in clothes highlight skin color, so a light tonal remedy will come in handy.
There was only a perfume left - it should be elegant, interesting, but not particularly bright.
A dress in the Chanel style needs to be able to wear, properly combined with accessories and worthy to stay in society. The first impression is created only once and there will be no second chance for this - the words of the great woman, the goddess of high fashion, who left a small black dress as a legacy to all women.
All the images look fantastic! Some seemed very familiar to me)
I am a fan of Chanel. That's really where appearance is not the main thing. A very strong woman, she will be remembered for centuries.
A little black dress should be in the wardrobe of any woman! This is just an element of the basic wardrobe, with which you can combine many things and easily change the image.