fascinating.
Since Coco Chanel's death in 1971, Karl Lagerfeld has taken the reigns as chief designer at the brand in an effort to continue Chanel's legacy. It remains one of the world's most valuable brands and has shown longevity as both young and old can relate to the brand. One of Chanel's biggest fans, Rihanna, was seen today at the Chanel show sporting a complete look straight from the runway of Chanel's SS14 collection. Karl Lagerfeld is a big fan of Rihanna also and she is often pictured wearing Chanel pieces. In April 2013, there was so much publicity around Chanel and Rihanna, the whole world was asking the question - "Is Rihanna the new face of Chanel?" These rumours were squashed shortly after however, as a spokesperson from the fashion house commented that the Vogue cover girl and singer has not been photographed for one of its campaigns - despite reports on the contrary. In addition to this, Rihanna fans have called for what was once merely rumours and speculation to become a reality, as with her regular instagram posts "#CCertified" (Chanel Certified), her continued loyalty to the brand (she is often seen sporting Chanel pieces) and her appearances at the brand's shows- It seems as though Rihanna herself is gunning for the enviable position of being the face of Chanel. But does Rihanna really represent Chanel? The brand started in 1910 with a mission statement promising to stay true to the distinction of it's past founder, while still moving it into the future. In their words, "To be the Ultimate House of Luxury, defining style and creating desire, now and forever." It could be argued that Rihanna brings the element of the future to the brand, reinforcing it's longevity, however- it could also be argued that Rihanna, famed for her party girl lifestyle and revealing stage outfits is a far cry from the original Chanel that Coco had envisioned all those years ago, who once said a girl should be two things, "classy and fabulous". She also said, "Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman.” Coco was known for the understated elegance of her pieces- which seems inconsistent to Rihanna's personal sense of style. Looking demure and well presented at Paris Fashion week, but half naked and provocative in her next music video. If Coco Chanel were alive today, would she approve of this disconnect? Or would Rihanna be revealing too much for the designer, who once said "be classy. Anything but trashy".
One thing that draws a similar line between the brand and Rihanna's sense of style, was the initial pioneering design aesthetic that brought Chanel into the limelight. Coco Chanel redefined the fashionable woman. She introduced masculine elements into the dress and gave a look of youthful ease, a liberated physicality, and unencumbered sportive confidence. Rihanna too champions a free, youthful sense of style which can at times seem androgynous, and although her fashion choices do not always carry a look of understated elegance that Chanel had once envisioned, they certainly have made the singer a bigger star and a well respected member of the fashion community, Rihanna's multiple transformations through her look and fashion have kept her in the public eye and for this I can only admire her, so as Coco Chanel once said, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.” |