I quite firmly believe that Sex and the City would not have been a hit if the women had no costume changes. The Devil Wears Prada succeeded because it wasn't The Devil Wears Hand-Me-Downs. Film is a great medium for couture eye candy. There's something very aspirational and enticing about close-ups of wardrobes most of us will never afford. Offer me a peak into the world of designer frocks, and I'm there.
Unfortunately, watching Project Runway does not make you a designer. If it did, I'd be typing this in a chiffon gown right now.
Audrey Tautou, the gamine French actress of Amelie and The Da Vinci Code fame (who channels the quirky beauty of another timeless Audrey) will be starring as Coco Chanel in the upcoming biopic Coco Avant Chanel (translation for the non-bilingual: Coco Before Chanel). The film, as evidenced by its title, will focus on the childhood and young womanhood of the legendary designer. And thankfully, casting directors knew enough to cast a Frenchwoman in the role. Americans with French accents make me cry. And not a good cry. Most exciting, the film will feature dresses from the Chanel collection with Karl Lagerfeld, art director of the House of Chanel, supervising the re-creation of the accessories and wardrobe.
Production starts on September 15th. In Paris, naturally.
Nadine Bells
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