Chanel: Collections and Creations

by Daniele Bott

Buy new: $40.00 $199.98

Editorial Reviews

A lush visual selection from the Chanel archive—essential reading for fashionistas and design aficionados everywhere.

Chanel's combination of tradition, originality, and style has always made it the most seductive of fashion labels. Here the House of Chanel opens its private archives, revealing a galaxy of brilliant designs created by Coco Chanel from 1920 onwards. Dazzling clothes, intricate accessories, beautiful models, and timeless design leave no doubt as to the lasting fame of her name and embody everything that has come to symbolize the magic of Chanel.

The book explores five central themes—the suit, the camellia, jewelry, makeup and perfume, the little black dress—and follows the threads from past to present to show how these key items have been rediscovered and reinvented by new designers. It includes many previously unpublished archive photographs and original drawings by Karl Lagerfeld, as well as glorious images from some of the greatest names in fashion photography. 139 illustrations, 83 in color.

Customer Reviews

Almost the lone dissenting voice, 2008-10-20
by SusieQ (New York)

I see this book has been almost universally praised. Much as I hate to be almost the sole dissenting voice, I have to say I found the book quite lightweight in regards to the many years of history of Chanel collections, and basically, just a long advertisement for Karl Lagerfeld's reinvention of the Chanel product(s) line.

Since I find most of KL's innovations for Chanel somewhat tacky and hit-or-miss, I didn't enjoy this very much.

A Glorious Chanel Chocolate Box, 2008-09-19
by N. Mc Kenna (Melbourne, Australia.)

Chanel: Collections and Creations is an utter delight from cover to cover. The book itself is beautifully presented, printed on heavy stock and bound tightly. Unlike some other "coffee table books" I've bought, it feels like it was made to last. This book is a real treat for both the casual and dedicated fashionistas alike. Images are gloriously rendered both in full color and crisp black and white. The full page shot of the iconic camellia brooches and the section dedicated to the Chanel suit were particular highlights. A number of photographs are so detailed and well shot that you almost feel you can reach out and touch the clothing and jewelry pictured. I can highly recommend this excellent resource - even for those with a mere passing interest in the house of Chanel. A very happy addition to my book collection.

Ultimate, 2008-07-11
by Albert Rossi (Boca Raton, Miami)

Ultimate in beauty style and class.
Everybody loves Coco.
A great book.
And it smells wonderful.
Style, my friends,
always look for that style!

Great book!, 2008-06-25
by Yengkong Vang (CA, USA)

A great book for all CHANEL FANS! I love it. I love the pictures in it. The way the subjects are treated is very interesting and the pictures are great in it too.

La Grande Coco, 2008-06-02
by Panache, Marlene Bernardino (Geneve, Switzerland)

Of course, Gabrielle, Gaby, Coco...all Paris is here. The couture, the perfumes, the hats, le style. Many colors and many memories. I love this book.