Chanel: A History of Chic Accessories
This spring, Coco Before Chanel, a Chanel biopic starring Da Vinci Code actress Audrey Tatou, began working its way through cinemas across the world. The film tells the story of Gabrielle Bonhuer Chanel, known to the world as Coco. Coco Chanel was born in 1883 in a poorhouse. When she died in 1971, she was the founder of a house of fashion that has come to be synonymous with taste, elegance, and French fashion.
Chanel began her design empire by creating relaxed, elegant jackets, dresses, and hats that ushered in the "flapper" look of the 1920s. Over the years her style evolved, maintaining the core principals of "elegant simplicity". Her iconic suits found their way into the mainstream via fashion icons like Jackie Kennedy, and her perfume, Chanel No. 5, is the most famous fragrance in the world, thanks to its promotion by the legendary Marilyn Monroe. Since 1983, Chanel's fashion arm has been under the direction of Karl Lagerfeld, who modernizes the Chanel approach to fashion with every passing season.
But in addition to suits, perfume, and designer gowns, Chanel also makes accessories. In addition to handbags and watches, Chanel produces some of the most forward-looking designer eyewear available on the market today. Beloved by celebrities and fashionistas everywhere, Chanel's eyeglasses and sunglasses are no less structured and tailored than Chanel's famous suits and gowns.
Chanel sunglasses are the more visible designer eyewear from Chanel. On any given day there is a celebrity photographed by the glossy magazines, the gossip pages, or the celebrity blogs, rocking a pair of Chanel sunnies. And why not? The Chanel touch is evident in the classic styles available-from the 5135, a diamante-studded pair of aviators, seen on Lindsay Lohan, to the 5131H, an oversized frame with a single cultured pearl on the arm, which became a hot item after it was spotted on Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
Many pairs sport the interlocking-C logo, while others, such as the 5138 model favored by British singer Lily Allen, feature a more playful multicoloured "CHANEL" spelled out along the arm. Chanel sunglasses aren't just for women, either: Terrell Owens, wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills, has been photographed in the Chanel 6006 sunglasses, a streamlined aviator style. And Karl Lagerfeld, naturally, is never without a pair of Chanel sunglasses-usually the 4136, a more angular aviator shape.
Transitioning, like a Chanel dress, from the red carpet to the office, Chanel eyewear offers those who wear glasses very fashionable options for vision correction. Again, the look for Chanel eyeglasses is classic styles with a twist or a little glitter added. Lauren Conrad, star of TV's The Hills, has been seen smartening up her look with the Chanel 2125 model eyeglasses, featuring a "quilted" look on the arm that evokes Chanel's handbags and jackets. Chanel's 1505 frames, a wayfarer shape with contrasting brow line, have been spotted on quirkier members of the celebrity set, such as Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. If the eyes are the window to the soul, you could hardly do worse than to dress your windows up with the timeless elegance of Chanel.
Kate Whitely is a freelance writer based in Chicago. Her areas of interest include fashion, beauty, and home improvement. She buys designer glasses and sunglasses online at http://www.popularglasses.com.
