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This week, I’ve been in Paris, and if you follow me on Twitter or Instagram, you probably know about my visit. I traveled beneath the channel to see the No5 Culture Chanel exhibition at the Palais de Tokyo, and it was fantastic. To fully appreciate it, I recommend taking the audio-guided tour because the guides have an incredible amount of knowledge. There’s a lot to take in, but if you love diving into the inspiration behind fashion and are a fan of Chanel, you’ll be completely captivated.
What stood out most for me was the interactive area upstairs, which was quite a delight. Chanel is offering olfactory and creative workshops, where I had the chance to design my own No5 bottle and keep a lovely little item called a Perfumez-Moi. It’s a ceramic fragrance applicator that you use to apply perfume in a very Marilyn Monroe style. She famously replied, “Why, Chanel No5 of course,” when asked what she wore to bed. You apply the fragrance wherever you’d like to be kissed—an idea that seemed more innocent back in the day.
I’ve captured a lot of the exhibition on film and pieced together my favorite parts in a video. By watching it, you’ll hear some of the inspirations behind the Chanel No5 design and get a glimpse of the exhibits. The exhibition primarily focuses on the fragrance’s history, which I couldn’t possibly summarize entirely on film. If you watch it, you’ll also get to see my final No5 bottle design—it’s quite unique!
While in Paris, I also had the extraordinary chance to visit Coco Chanel’s private apartments on Rue Cambon. This was something special, as the rooms are never open to the public and visits are by invitation only. I recorded a short video and took some photos. The visit was surprising – the downstairs salon had the classic Chanel look in beige, black, and white, but the private rooms upstairs felt completely different. They were like a whimsical wonderland filled with artifacts and inspirations, very personal and endearing. Since Chanel’s death, nothing has changed, so you can sense her quirks and superstitions. She was very superstitious and believed in pairs; there’s always two of everything. You can practically trace her creative thoughts by spotting elements that directly inspired her designs, like patterns on Chinese screens or crystal camellias in chandeliers.
I wish I could have spent a whole day in those apartments. They exuded an atmosphere of life, buzzing with ideas and history. They weren’t sleeping quarters; Chanel had a suite at the Ritz across the street. These rooms were meant for work and entertaining, full of creativity and activity. I feel very fortunate to have experienced it. I hope you enjoy the photos—though I wish I’d taken more.
Now, about the video: if you received this through email, click here to watch my little film; otherwise, just look below to see it for yourself.