Review: The Little Black Jacket

Extra special thanks to Sarra Salib, the winner of our The Little Black Jacket contest, for her review of the book which appears below. If you have not had a chance to see this book in person yet, I definitely recommend you do so, the stark layout and the quality materials support the elegant images perfectly.

Review: The Little Black Jacket
By Sarra Salib

It would be an understatement to claim that a Carine Roitfeld and Karl Lagerfeld collaboration is legendary. Revamping Coco Chanel’s classic design is a challenging task; however, this explosive combination of creative minds had the ability to transform the jacket from its simple yet elegant reality to the most fanciful of fantasies. The result is images that are unabashedly clean and stark, dark and romantic.

Perhaps my favorite element of The Little Black Jacket is the unrestraint of each individual’s personality. From Vladimir’s rather stoic and elusive expression to Akuol De Mabior’s African heritage, each person’s individuality remains intact to the very last image. With Carine’s brilliant styling and Karl’s dramatic photography, the jacket never overpowers the individual’s spirit, but rather becomes a means to illuminate it. This crucial element takes a tongue-in-cheek turn when the Anna Wintour image hits. The signature bob, the jacket propped on the shoulders just so, the austere pose. Description is still provided just in case someone is at a loss as to who this character might be.

The Little Black Jacket’s milky way of model repertoire runs the gamut: actors, models, designers, adults, children, musicians, talk show hosts, men and women alike. Carine and Karl don’t discriminate. They prove that one garment can pass the test of versatility and have the ability to be dressed up or down. They also throw convention out the door. The jacket doesn’t have to be worn just as a jacket. It can be worn as a skirt, as a headpiece, or simply wrapped around your top if you are willing to be daring. Individuality and Freedom. What else could anyone want?

The Little Black Jacket is a classic and is undoubtedly leaving an indelible mark in the fashion world. Its 113 towering images maintain a duplicity of complexity and simplicity that brings modernity to an item that has been around for ages. Bravo Carine and Karl.

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The Little Black Jacket book images © 2012 Chanel. All Rights Reserved.

IWTBAR Contest Winner: Sarra Salib

It is a distinct pleasure to announce the results of The Little Black Jacket contest... the essays in praise of Carine Roitfeld were so good that I decided to modify the prize structure and award three winners. I will be publishing various entries from the contest over the next few weeks beginning today with the winning essay, congratulations and thanks to all who entered!

First Prize
Sarra Salib
"Carine Roitfeld: The One and Only"
Prize: The Little Black Jacket and IWTBAR black tee

Second Prize
Morgan Von Steen
"Rap Ode To Carine Roitfeld"
Prize: IWTBAR black tee

Third Prize
Jessica Eritou
"Relating To Carine Roitfeld"
Prize: IWTBAR mug

Carine Roitfeld: The One and Only
By Sarra Salib

Carine Roitfeld celebrated Vogue Paris’ 90th anniversary by writing “If one word were to sum up the elegance, the luxury, the audacity, the desire and the spirit, no doubt it would be Vogue.” I would like to take the opportunity to modify Carine’s breathtakingly beautiful happy anniversary note and dedicate it to The One and Only herself: If one name were to sum up the elegance, the irreverence, the audacity, the charm, and the spirit, no doubt it would be Carine Roitfeld. The first time I fell in love with Carine was through Style.com’s “Get the Look.” The look was her (in my opinion) iconic, casual, summer ensemble. Carine wore perfectly tailored, 70s cut white pants; olive colored Equipment silk shirt; the unobtrusive Salvador Dali crucifix necklace; nude, dangerously high sandals; honey hued straight screen of hair; kohl rimmed eyes; and one must not forget, Carine’s favorite accessory, the cell phone. Style.com’s description was accurate in that “It’s impossible to emulate the style of Paris Vogue’s Carine Roitfeld.” This was quintessential Carine. This was cool Carine. The outfit looks deceivingly simple to one’s eye, but when dissected down, there are myriad elements that make this ephemeral style belong to one person. Indeed, there is no point in belaboring futile efforts. Is it the way she conspicuously takes each step as if the concrete street is her own runway? Is it the way her hair falls on her face and masks her as a shield? Is it the way her haunting green eyes peer from behind and delve deep into the enchanted followers’ souls? Even the way she rolls her sleeves is permeated by aesthetic. An essay is an insufficient space to serenade Carine. I could go on elaborating and abstracting, and still fail to capture this woman’s genius and talent. A daughter, a sister, a mother, a lover, and a legendary stylist. She’s everything. Her genuine and sincere smile is enough reason to make you fall in love.

Carine Roitfeld photograph courtesy of Fashion Spot.

The Little Black Jacket Contest

We are counting down the days until the publication of The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited by Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld and with only thirty days to go, there is no better time for an LBJ contest! If you love the style of Carine Roitfeld, now is the time to share your opinion and win a prize. Write an essay inspired by Carine to be eligible to win a copy of The Little Black Jacket upon publication as well as a black IWTBAR tee. The contest is limited to the first 100 respondents and ends 25 August 2012; please note that the IWTB team is ineligible to play. All submissions become property of IWTB and may be published at my discretion. Good luck to all!

Submit your essay here.

The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited photograph courtesy of astairemagazine.com

The Roitfelds At Chanel Little Black Jacket Opening

Karl Lagerfeld threw a party to launch the opening of his digital exhibit, The Little Black Jacket, last night in Soho and the party was described by at least one guest as "beyond." The exhibit and book by the same name were curated by Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld, featuring 113 photographs of an assortment of celebrities, all clad in the classic Chanel Little Black Jacket. Carine fit the bill in a stunning Chanel two-piece at the launch while her daughter Julia was radiant in black lace. Among the fabulous guests were Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld, Giovanna Battaglia, Linda Evangelista, Zoe Kravitz, Leigh Lezark, Karolina Kurkova, Lily Donaldson, Penn Badgely, Pharrell Williams, Zac Posen, Lily Collins, Poppy Delevingne, Jessica Stam, Crystal Renn, Lisa Bonet, Jessica Pare, and Alexandra and Theodora Richards. The Little Black Jacket exhibit opens tomorrow for public perusal and runs through 15 June; the book will publish in August.

View the clever invitation to the opening of The Little Black Jacket

Carine Roitfeld and Julia Restoin-Roitfeld photographs courtesy of Rex Features and catwalkqueen.tv.

The Roitfelds: The Little Black Jacket

In her typical style, Carine Roitfeld included her children, Julia and Vladimir, in the forthcoming book The Little Black Jacket... and now the moment we have been waiting for: Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld wearing a Chanel women's jacket! You would have to be a Roitfeld to pull off this look, quel homme !

Carine Roitfeld, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld photographs © 2012 Chanel. All Rights Reserved.