Variation On A Theme By Chanel

I saw this incredible jacket from Chanel's pre-Fall 2017 and it was insta-love. I can't believe how incredibly beautiful this piece is! Naturally, I wanted to give it, and the whole vibe that surrounds it, a try. Small prob: I don't own it. And am unlikely to in the near future. So, I had to improvise which, fortunately, I'm pretty decent at. There are several elements that go into creating the effect of this piece, all of them very closely linked to what I consider the classic Chanel aesthetic. First, there is texture. In this case, it's done with the bouclé fabric Chanel made iconic. But it doesn't have to be - all you really need is a textural contrast. It's currently too warm for bouclé -which is a fall fabric - where I live, so I went with an ivory denim jacket instead. Big leap, I know, but stick with me. In order to echo the magnificent floral details, I added a crocheted tank underneath. The flowers don't have the same dimension as the Chanel piece, but in this case, it's not material; I just wanted to suggest the art-garden idea. A faux floral brooch or floral appliqué blouse could give a similar effect - and that's the crux of the exercise: an homage, a riff, an echo, a personalized metamorphosis. Where the bouclé has a strong, tactile presence, here that feeling comes from the interplay between smooth denim and softer, more dimensional knit. Once the weather turns cooler, this could be swapped to a neutral, but un-embellished, bouclé piece (supply your own glamour. See below) or a light-colored tweed with a more feminine blouse/tank/came/sweater layered below.  On the runway, the jacket was shown with an ivory skirt, but I chose to go with more practical black slim jeans. They maintain the iconic vibe, but also fit with this more laidback re-imagining. (Nearly any classic neutral would work nicely). To echo the metallic flower centers and pearl embroidery, I layered doubled-up necklaces: opera-length faux pearls, vintage gold chains and - because I'm me :) - a touch of crystal via a station necklace. An alternative idea I love is to use a similar mix, but include a floral statement necklace to evoke the jacket's applique. May have to try that one next time around ;). Chanel was famous for adding a subtle tough edge to her femininity, a bit of tomboy aesthetic, so I completed the look with studded sandals: dainty, but with a touch of attitude. It felt very Chanel, without being Chanel. And totally fun!