Karl Lagerfeld, the long-time creative director of the House of Chanel, made his directorial debut with a tribute to fashion icon Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel.
The 10 minute black and white silent film chronicles the life of the iconic fashion designer and her rise to prominence in the 1920s to become one of the most recognized houses of global haute couture.
"Karl kept his cast tight, choosing model Edita Vilkeviciute to play Coco, his bodyguard to play a nightclub owner, and workers in his atelier to play parts in the movie," Fab Sugar notes.
"I cannot take extras,” says Lagerfeld. “They don’t know how to touch the clothes.”
The short film, is scheduled to make its debut in Paris this week.
"It’s a funny movie, unpretentious,” says Lagerfeld. “Chanel was a charming woman, at liberty to seduce men. Everybody this year has decided to make a movie about Chanel, and you know their historical worth is not always too exact."
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Silent Film Fashion Tributes
- The creation of silent black-and-white films paying tribute to fashion icons for global haute couture brands presents the opportunity for a unique and nostalgic brand experience.
- Fashion Biopics
- Fashion biopics detailing the life and career of iconic fashion designers through the use of silent films creates an innovative and entertaining way to engage customers with a brand.
- Utilizing In-house Staff for Cinematic Projects
- Employing in-house staff as actors in creative projects presents an opportunity to keep costs low while promoting team cohesion.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Fashion
- The fashion industry can utilize silent film biopics as a way to pay homage to design icons, showcase artful clothing, and create a unique brand experience.
- Film
- The film industry can capitalize on the increasing popularity of silent black-and-white fashion biopics to create a new niche genre, which will appeal to a broad audience.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Marketing and advertising agencies can use in-house staff as actors in creative projects as a cost-saving way to provide their clients with artistic and compelling content.
