(Photo / LuxuryDaily)
Why does it feel that everything you’re craving costs the price of a small vehicle these days?
Sure, you can always get an easy fashion fix at H&M, but sometimes investing in a timeless-not-trendy piece makes way more financial sense than indulging in faddish buys.
Case in point: Chanel’s super-classic little black jacket. The 2.55 may be the ubiquitous status purse, but the iconic shrunken jacket is an understated piece that could be worn over and over… all without screaming “label whore”.
And the chic staple has never been hotter — Karl Lagerfeld and former Paris Vogue editrix Carine Roitfeld are about to launch a book in fall, titled "The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited", which showcases celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, Lauren Hutton and Roitfeld (styled to look uncannily like Mademoiselle Coco herself) clad in the remarkably crafted garment.
Retailing between S$7,000 and S$24,000, Chanel's jacket isn’t exactly an impulse buy for the average shopper. But, like a luxury timepiece meticulously assembled by the most skilled of artisans, the preternaturally stylish jacket is constructed by hand through a series of multiple steps: From the cutting of a muslin pattern based on a hand-drawn sketch by Karl Lagerfeld, to sewing individual components of the actual fabric, tweaking it again after a fitting on a model, and lining the interior perimeter of the jacket with Chanel’s signature chain to weigh down the hem and create an impeccable silhouette.
Just like her ultra-versatile little black dress, Coco Chanel created the Chanel suit for modern women on the go.
"A Chanel suit is made for a woman that moves," Chanel used to say, "I understand the woman, I have wanted for her an outfit in which she can be at ease, drive her car and yet remain totally feminine."
Despite its sleek, body-skimming proportions, the jacket allows for plenty of movement while retaining its impeccable form. How? By constructing the garment according to the grain of the fabric for maximum suppleness, and with sleeves that are cut with a slight bend so that it has a more ergonomic fit. Its signature three-quarter length sleeves also added to the slimming, slightly shrunken silhouette — while allowing the wearer to pile on plenty of Chanel bangles.
Need more convincing? Check out the digital exhibition at www.thelittleblackjacket.chanel.com of 113 pictures of celebrities and personalities taken by Karl Lagerfeld. After all, if it’s good enough for SJP and friends, this is probably one item worth splurging your bonus on.
