The Cocktail Hour

There’s an air of romantic drama within the fashion world this season, so it’s

time to embrace the carefree, ‘too much is never enough’ approach when

experimenting with your wardrobe this winter. From ladylike elegance with

a modern twist – think demure cocktail dresses in neon hues – to heavily

bejewelled and opulent pieces, current trends are bold and eclectic but always

the essence of luxury. This attitude is reflected in Chanel’s Little Black Jacket

exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery this month. Following on from Tokyo, New

York, Taipei and Hong Kong, the stunning display is open until October 28.

Featuring 113 black and white photographs depicting Karl Lagerfeld’s

favourite muses wearing the label’s iconic jacket, each picture captures its

subject’s personality effortlessly; a great testament to the close relationships

Lagerfeld has developed with the industry’s most influential names. Although

shots of all the usual suspects are included – step forward Claudia Schiffer,

Alexa Chung and Carine Roitfeld – it also showcases some more unexpected

names, from hip-hop star Kanye West to young actress Elle Fanning.

Particularly striking images include Stella Tennant loosely draping her jacket

around her shoulders, a tousled Georgia May Jagger smouldering with

the jacket over nothing but a black bra, and Daphne Guinness looking as

decadent as ever in dazzling jewels.

The history behind such a classic piece is just as inspiring as the exhibition

itself. It was during Coco Chanel’s comeback in 1953 that she designed

what is now seen as the quintessential Chanel piece: the collarless, boxy

tweed jacket. Initially the fashion world was sceptical, claiming the style was

frumpy and unflattering; not for the first time they got it wrong. Integral to

Chanel’s enduring appeal was her ability to always be one step ahead, as

demonstrated by the classic bouclé jacket. It was revolutionary because it

contradicted everything that was then the height of fashion: the heavy New

Look skirts and the demure necklines of the early 1950s. The Chanel jacket

looked effortlessly chic and modern in comparison: like any great piece of

clothing, it was a sign of the times and the future.

If nothing else, the exhibition taps into the decadent trend that’s so prominent

this year, providing ample inspiration for you to get perusing a range of cocktail dresses 

and start hitting the town in style this winter.

XoXo
Thanks for Reading :)