Chanel: The Little Black Jacket

A fashion designer friend of mine once said that designing clothes is like any other form of product design, but with fabric. There is a lot of calculated measures and decisions that go into the construction of a garment so that it will fit the curves of the human form. And what better way to illustrate this point than by showing a video of the making of Chanel's iconic little black jacket.

Before Chanel, women's fashion consisted of corsets, long, full skirts, feathered hats, bright colors, and plush, heavy fabrics. Women were treated like and dressed like ornaments. Chanel came in and redefined women's fashion by introducing menswear-inspired pieces like trousers, jersey fabric, and of course, the little black jacket. She wanted the modern woman to be free and comfortable and she made sure every cut, stitch, and seam did just that. Doesn't seem so revolutionary now, but considering the fact that this occured not too long after the turn of the century, her vision was pretty trailblazing. Excuse me as I dork out here, but this video is what true fashion is all about. This is why true designers deserve recognition. With every calculated proportion, measure, and stitch, they bring a vision to life and create something out of nothing. And the truly talented ones, like Chanel, can create something that changes the way people think. 

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M

Whenever any major designer decides to collaborate with H&M, there is always a major buzz going on within the fashion industry. From both a legal and business perspective, these collaborations have proven to be a smart branding strategy for high-end or lesser known designers who are trying to introduce their line to a wider audience.  In this instance, the fashion house is one of my personal favorites. Over the years, I have splurged quite a bit on Maison Martin Margiela itself and look forward to giving my wallet a rest with its affordable H&M line. However, because many don't take to the avant-garde aesthetic Margiela is known for, I admit I was curious to see how the brand was going to translate its particular high-fashion point of view to a fast-fashion mass audience. After reviewing the recently released images from the ad campaign, I am even more excited about getting my hands on the final product (specifically preying on the clear wedge boots, jackets, that awesome red dress, and the jewelry). Check out the beautiful line, which will be available in stores on November 15. 

Images Courtesy of Fashionologie

Chanel No. 5 New Ad With Brad Pitt Revealed

It was a major surprise when Chanel revealed that it was going to have Brad Pitt star as the new face for the No. 5 ad campaign. I know what you're thinking, and no, it's not a new cologne for men. Brad Pitt will be the face of history's most iconic scent for women.

Why? After decades of choosing famous actresses like Nicole Kidman and Marilyn Monroe, we aren't so sure. Despite the surprised reactions, Chanel seems to be confident in its move, as indicated with the following statement:

"No. 5 is the most iconic fragrance of our time, and Brad Pitt is the most iconic actor of our time. To keep a legend fresh, you always have to change its point of view. It is the first time we've had a man speaking about a women's fragrance. We think very much that the perfume is a seduction between a man, a woman and the perfume. No. 5 is our leading fragrance, and we are willing to make the investment to keep it on that level."

The brand has just released the first of the No. 5 footage with the famous actor. And while I'm a fan of both Chanel and Brad Pitt, I'm still trying to reconcile the collaboration. What do you think of the film? Dreamy or cheesy? 

Spotlight on Haider Ackermann Spring 2013

In covering fashion at TFG, I truly aim to offer our readers all styles and points-of-view. Nevertheless, I do have my go-to favorite designers whose aesthetics just capture everything that I personally seek out in my fashion. One of them happens to be Haider Ackermann. Amidst the expected frenzy that came with Slimane's and Simons's ready-to-wear debuts, I personally believe Haider Ackermann presented the strongest spring collection from start to finish, head to toe.

The tailoring and layering were masterful. The mix of heavy fabrics with lush and ethereal textures, genius. The styling, impeccable. His ability to balance the masculine with the feminine and the avant-garde with the practical made each piece truly timeless. Ackermann chose to remain subtle in his color palette. “I just didn’t want this violence of brights or this orgy of colors,” he said. “I just wanted to be very calm. It was serene.” Indeed, it was such a beautiful collection that I decided to share video footage of the entire show and allow our readers to take in the work of this truly poetic designer. Just try to remain patient through the models' decidedly slow-motion strut. 

Paris Fashion Week: Spring 2013 RTW from A through Z

Like many women, even the mention of "Paris" conjures up images of all things romantic and beautiful. Paris during fashion week takes it to a whole new sartorial fairy-tale-level. Throughout PFW, we saw a general restraint in color across the board and more of an emphasis on tailoring and texture. That's not to say there weren't splashes of bright hues and prints to signal the upcoming spring season. Check out our favorite looks. 

Akris

Alexander McQueen

Ann Demeulemeester

Anthony Vaccarello

Balenciaga

Balmain

Celine

Chalayan

Chanel

Chloe

Costume National

Dries Van Noten

Elie Saab

Givenchy

Haider Ackermann

Isabel Marant

Lanvin

Maison Martin Margiela

Miu Miu

Nina Ricci

Rick Owens

Roland Mouret

Stella McCartney

Valentino

Photos Courtesy of WWD