Chanel style dress - for a flawless look
Coco Chanel is one of the few designers who have been able to create around themselves a cult of femininity and elegance, mystery and charm. She herself remained a great unsolved mystery. And, a century later, humanity is trying to unravel the secrets of her life and the mystery of the popularity of her little black dress, which has become the standard of impeccable taste.
Small black dress
Almost a century ago, a significant event took place in the world of haute couture - the recognition of a dress from Chanel (the same one - small and black) as an example of femininity and a standard of perfectly matched style, although Gabrielle Chanel accidentally created her iconic model. The reason for the dress was sad - the death of a lover.
It took only a few months for the fashion for black dress to spread all over the world. In evening dresses from Chanel, the movie stars appeared with pleasure in front of the cameras.
Chanel classics
We are all talking about the little dress that the great Coco created and demonstrated to the world. But it’s not small because it’s short or overly frank.
A simple cut and a color familiar to all of us - that is what is hidden under the word "small". The first dress, which developed a whole trend in fashion, was characterized by a semicircle neckline, narrow long sleeves and a hem that covered the knees.
Modern models
The concept of a black little dress, created decades ago by Chanel, will forever remain unchanged, but still some changes have affected it, because modern designers are trying to adapt it to various female figures and events.
Mrs. Coco did not consider knees to be a subject of female pride, so her dresses were not short. This situation was changed by the art director of the Chanel fashion brand Karl Lagerfeld, shortening the outfits, which allowed the girls not to hide the beauty of their legs.
Another innovation was layering, which expanded the possibilities of using the iconic dress for different types of figures.
In a dress, the following are admissible:
- ruffles;
- drapery;
- lace;
- collars;
- sleeves of different shapes;
- colored inserts.
Embroidery and a scattering of beads and pearls, sequins and rhinestones can also serve as decoration.
Regardless of the cut and decor of the model in the Chanel style, simplicity and aristocratic notes must certainly be present.
Long
Laconicism and severity are inherent in long outfits from Chanel. The silhouette has also remained unchanged: A-silhouette or case. The dresses are characterized by transparent sleeves and a small train.
A-line dress
Coco put her sense of style much higher than being blind to fashion. And she believed that a woman should show herself and use her natural talent to create beautiful things around herself.
The well-known A-silhouette is perfectly combined with lace, and the female image in such an outfit is filled with tenderness and fragility. Let the original version of the little black dress had a straight cut, but this personification has individuality, which makes it possible to skillfully revive famous images from the great Chanel.
With white collar
It would seem that good can come from a combination of two of the simplest things - a black dress and a white collar. But this image combines severity, style, there is even a little solemnity. It was these qualities that supplanted stiffness and dullness.
The 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 a basis for the formation of everyday style, the English image, for transforming into a lady like and visiting the office.
A black dress with a white collar, with the right cut, will help smooth out the extra volume in the figure.
White
A black dress is not the only example of a classic outfit. White was one of the favorite colors for Chanel, so it doesn't hurt to add a little white dress to your wardrobe.
It can also serve as a basic outfit for a wide variety of looks.
Blue
A Chanel-style dress can easily transform into other colors and at the same time looks restrained, aristocratic and as feminine as possible. Take blue for example.
Not bright, moderately saturated, dark - what is not an alternative for black, which can overemphasize skin color? Correctly chosen blue does not sin.
White and black
It was the great woman Coco Chanel who introduced the fashion for the 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 vivid sign of classics, minimalism or the embodiment of simple elements in chic looks.
Evening lace
The translucent effect in an evening dress is definitely a good decision on which a perfect look will be based. Slightly translucent leather, which is framed by a laconic and moderately closed cut, a shining finish - all these moments make the fabric transform and stand out with new facets.
For Chanel, lace was not just a beautiful fabric, but the embodiment of fantasies created by nature itself. An evening lace dress à la Chanel is not a 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 - that will be enough. You can bundle your hair into a tall, voluminous bun that will add a touch of vintage to your look.
The creation of cotton dresses is the idea of Coco Chanel, who very subtly felt the new fashion trends.
Cocktail
Even the most laconic Chanel-style dress with minimal decor is relevant at a cocktail party. But, as mentioned above, the decoration of the dress is very diverse (feathers, stones, embroidery, frills).
Therefore, a strict outfit should be left for work, and for a holiday, choose a short model with a fringe of a tight-fitting silhouette or with puffy sleeves and ruffles of an A-line silhouette.
Translucent sleeves, collars and cutouts are also relevant, and even leather can serve as a material for a dress. A lace dress with a white collar is also suitable for a cocktail.
A chiffon dress with lace details and feather décor is a good example.
Velvet is in perfect harmony with translucent sleeves. For a knitted model, a train scarf 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 has always treated accessories with special trepidation. This love gave rise to innovative bridal outfits. Their length was slightly below knee level.
Dresses have always been varied and expressive: sheaths, puffy models with a fitted cut, long and cropped versions. All this decoration was necessarily complemented by original, unusual and exclusive accessories.
Now the fashion house of Chanel is run by Karl Lagerfeld, who does not forget about the timeless classics and regularly includes exquisite models combined with original styles in his collections.
The novelties that shocked the entire fashion world were wedding models with elements of Gothic and classic attributes, with simple cut elements and sophisticated cuts.
Tweed
When inclement weather is raging outside the window, and you need to get your body out of a warm bed and get ready for work, you really want to make a dress out of a blanket. Although you can go an easier way - choose a tweed dress.
The idea to create lovely warm dresses from such a rough fabric belongs to Coco Chanel. Now tweed has become softer, more pliable, but it still holds its shape well, warms and gives comfort.
For thin people, you can confidently choose thick tweed, but girls with a plump 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 sundress and combine it with different blouses.
Long-sleeved shirt dress organically fits into the feminine image of a modern woman. Made of thin tweed, it can even be used as a jacket. A straight cut or a strict trapeze, or maybe a dress with a wide hip area 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 its appearance, not everyone liked the Chanel-style dress and was even criticized by many. But now every girl has such an outfit in her wardrobe, and maybe even more than one. With its help, many images are created:
Retro style in a cocktail version
Retro fashion is very popular now. You can create several such looks in no time, having on hand a black dress that Coco Chanel gave us. Gloves of various lengths can be used with a scattering of small, neat and sophisticated sequins. If you don't want gloves, choose large jewelry or crystals to match the dress.
The embodiment of femininity
Again, 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.
Society lady
Fur is definitely required here. An ideal version of a coat, even if made of artificial material. An alternative solution is to use a bolero.
Choose a spectacular piece of jewelry that will catch your eye and rivet it to your person. Shoes are the highlight of the program, or rather the image. It must match the image, stand out for its showiness and originality.
Ultimate elegance
For connoisseurs of the classics, this image will be like a native one. Next to the Chanel dress should be white pearls gathered in a thin thread.
For the legs, you will need the thinnest tights you can find, and classic shoes with thin, high heels.
What to wear with?
Choosing a strict classic dress requires discretion and accuracy in the selection of accessories. Each additional element of your look should be classic, elegant and stylish.
It is necessary to adhere to minimalism in jewelry. One catchy and expressive element will be enough - if there are beads, then the bracelet is no longer needed, we choose the simplest shoes for the noticeable belt.
If you have an invitation to an important and serious celebration, then you can wear a diamond necklace to a black dress. The creator of the black dress predominantly chose black hats and similar accessories.
Some, especially daring designers, suggest choosing unusual shoes for a classic dress, which cause controversy between fashion critics. High boots, shoes with a wide, stable heel or platform, rough boots with laces, and even Louboutins. Coco would obviously not like all this, but the choice is always yours - to be a supporter of a strictly classical style or choose bold, flashy images.
A few final touches on makeup and perfume. Discreet cosmetics on the face 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 foundation will come in handy.
There is only perfume left - it should be refined, interesting, but not particularly bright.
A Chanel-style dress needs to be able to be worn, properly combined with accessories and worthy of being 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 haute couture, who left all women a legacy of a little black dress.
A little black dress is a must have in every woman's wardrobe! It's just an element of the basic wardrobe with which you can combine many things and easily change the image.
I'm a Chanel fan. Indeed, where appearance is not the main thing. A very strong woman, she will be remembered for centuries.
All the images look fantastic! Some seemed very familiar to me)