Fashion Films | Chanel & Dior

Although they appear everywhere from stores to style magazines, ads are not enough for designers these days to promote their latest collections. Creative directors of luxury houses have started to take the director's seat, creating films that not only showcases the latest togs from the house, but also reflects the rich history and culture of the label. Today we look to two of the most iconic French luxury houses Chanel and Dior, as well as their latest films. Prepare to be awed.
Once Upon A Time by Karl Lagerfeld | Chanel

Karl Lagerfeld proves his directing skills once again in this delightfully French film "Once Upon A Time" which was made to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the very first Chanel boutique set in the quaint seaside town of Deauville, France. Being the face of Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle parfum, Keira Knightley was the natural choice for the Kaiser to play the legendary designer in her early years. Featuring notable names from British model Stella Tennant to Brad Kroenig, French actress Clotilde Hemse (as her aunt Adrienne) to Tallulah Harlech, this film was premièred at Raffles Hotel in Singapore (I still can't believe Karl was came to Singapore!) a day before Chanel's Resort Cruise 2014 collection was showcased at Loewen Cluster. Teen supermodel Lindsey Wixson also made an appearance in the film, wearing a très chic black feathered hat. Fabuleux.

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Secret Garden - Versailles by Inez and Vinoodh | Dior

If you haven't noticed, Dior has a thing for gardens. From Raf Simons' 2012 Couture collection to now their Secret Garden film series, Dior always had a recurring garden theme in its collections. Lensed by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin, the films were shot in the most dreamy palace in the world --- Versailles.Last year's Secret Garden was filled with glamorous hallways with impossibly ornate décor, but the second extension of the series "Secret Garden 2 - Versailles" instead brings you to the lush forest grounds of the Château.

 A symbol of Dior's French tradition, the picturesque Château de Versailles brings to life the Dior Fall 2013 collection, starring Russian clotheshorse Daria Strokous as Maria Antoinette, Xiao Wen Ju and Melissa Stasiuk clad top-to-toe in Dior Fall '13 togs. Enter an enchanting world from the Petit Trianon to the surreal misty forests, complete with iconic Diorissimo handbags, colourful spring gowns and of course, stunning scenery. 

Being ever the art historian, Raf Simons even took inspiration from French artists! The scene before you click "play" is apparently inspired by Édouard Manet’s famed "Le Déjeuner sur l’Herbe" or "Luncheon on the Grass", featuring three people reclining on the forest floor. In the film, they are replaced by Daria, Melissa and Xiao Wen still relaxing on the forest floor but instead donning full Dior regalia, with baskets of fruit and Diorissimo bags to match.
(Fun Fact : Did you know Dior means golden in French? Now you know.)

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What do you think? If these films aren't très français, I don't know what is.

       Charlotte