Lily Allen has been keeping relatively quiet recently. Her sophomore album was a critical success, and it has been at least a month and a half since she’s attacked a papparazo. She also recently went on The View and partially blamed sexism for her party-girl image, but at least she was honest about her partying.
Now she has something else to keep her name in the papers: as the face of Chanel’s handbag line. Karl Lagerfeld has little to say about the pick other than that “she’s fun.”
Karl Lagerfeld has cast another surprising personality for his next Chanel handbag campaign: Lily Allen. “She’s fun,” enthused Lagerfeld, who plans to turn his lens on the British pop star next week.
[From WWD Fashion]
Karl Lagerfeld has never been one to waste words, but he really cuts to the chase here. Chanel has traditionally been represented by more… demure… celebrities. These include Nicole Kidman, Audrey Tatou, Kiera Knightley, and Kate Moss. (Although Kate is considered a party girl, she was actually dropped after her cocaine scandal.)
Chanel handbag ads are not usually as sexy as those for Coco Chanel perfume, but Lily still isn’t the first name that comes to mind when brainstorming potential Chanel spokespeople. She’s too “fun.” Still, Lily loves Chanel, and is photographed with their handbags and clothes often, so in some ways it makes perfect sense.
It will be interesting to see if the ads take a more lighthearted spin on the brand in keeping with Lily’s personality, or if they mold her to Chanel ideal.
Here’s Lily looking relatively demure at the Chanel Autumn/Winter show at Paris Fashion Week on March 10th. Images thanks to WENN.com .
This was shocking, she’s a hot mess
Isn’t she supposed to be a chav? Well, she does look quite cute in the above photos but definitely not a Chanel model material.
I don’t see this going well…
Ugh its time to replace Karl. I’m sick and tired of people raving about what “genius” he is, maybe 20 some years ago, but now? Please. Chanel has become just as tacky as Louis Vuitton. Theres nothing like seeing some ghetto chick on the train pushing around her bastard kid with her nice “Chanel” bag.
lily is just like Amy Winehouse. shes a drunken hot mess the only diffrence is Lily bathes.
isnt this designer handbag trend over yet? although I think its a great scam to sell women a handbag for thousands of $$$ come on women.. get smart.. buy Art. land stock in energy companys not designer handbags.
I’m with you on that one. There’s no way I’d pay that kind of money for a handbag, even if I had it.
lilys wrist tats.. lol. yes why yes she is the face of chanel!
did you know Coco Chanel was in deep with the nazis?
She’s better suited as the face for the knock-offs.
People are writing their opinions about stories that were written last year. Let it go… Here’s another word of advice, if you can’t afford Chanel don’t complain about it. The one person that’ wants you to get smart because it’s a bad idea to buy Chanel, thinks it’s a good idea to put you money into art and land stocks while were in a recession. So far nobody knows what the hell their writing about.
The writer of the article had kinder words.
Why does fashion keep rewarding those who have substance abuse problems? They send a horrible message to Youths, and Iwouldn’t buy anything she’s hawking. These “celebs” are not haute couture model material!
Sauronsarmy:
What a racist co mment you posted. Ghetto chick? WTF!
Sad that a real, unique, talented woman who doesn’t bow to people’s standards and definitions of womanhood gets ripped to shreds the minute she becomes a spokesperson. Aren’t we always bitching about the Aryan, snobby waifs with no personality who dominate advertisements and runways? Then when we get a real PERSON…nothing but complaints.
well, we can all say “bye, bye” to chanels classy image
I agree with that too.
Nothing beats having a designer purse. I have an LV because I can’t afford Chanel.
I like Lily Allen but to me, Chanel is all about class and I don’t see Lily as being particularly classy.
I’ll say it again Dee signer handbags are a scam
Anyone watch Sex in the City Carrie figured out how much $$$$ she spend on shoes only to realize in her middle age thats all she had to show for it.
yes, even in these times make YOURSELF rich not someone whose initials you carry around on your arm.
It’s strange that people pass judgment on Lily Allen for being picked to represent Chanel. When you look at an ad for Chanel all you see is an overly attractive woman after someone has airbrushed the picture. It is somewhat of an insult, but it’s meant to sell a very successful idea. Chanel has a good reputation. But by judging the product only by looking at the ad it proves the point to people that think, yeah, I don’t actually own a Chanel handbag, but the ad really doe it for me, so I know what class is. Will Lily Allen have her photographs airbrushed (2007 cover G.Q. Magazine) No she won’t! She’s a feminist with strong views that she keep to herself most of the time. Claudia Shiffer probably won’t come knocking at your door, but if you see Lily Allen she will say hello and might give you a hug. That’s an idea that should sell handbags.
ewwwwwwww
Let’s face it: Chanel is struggling with their target audiences. They know their big income is related to two not very fashionable markets: perfume/cosmetics and accessories.
The ones who invest a lot of money to get something of a true fashion empire household name are the younger people. However, they spend a lot of money as a group because it’s a “tribe trend”. Individually, they don’t have enough to buy a real piece of clothing and, moreover, don’t believe in anything that can fade and wash away.
Thus, what makes Chanel’s true income is this new young target that wants something the world will recognize as being Chanel. The smell of n° 5, the beautiful shiny black powder case with the white CC to start with… The next step is the classic purse. The famous “matelassé” everybody will recognize.
Unfortunately, this is the only way for Chanel (and some other big fashion companies such as Dior or Vuitton) to retrieve the money to make the entire façade happen.
Haute Couture collections cost at least 1 to 1.5 million € each season per “maison de couture”. That’s the minimum wage… And it’s a total loss. But without that particular type of show and true art, a fashion kingdom such as Chanel cannot aspire to maintain their worldwide brand and big sales (again, only on perfumes, cosmetics -which are price/quality wise crappy for Chanel, some will argue this point but I stand by it-, accessories such as bags and purses mainly).
Plus, with the recession, I think Chanel wanted to choose someone who would seem funny to keep the spirits high (and thus the sale numbers too) and be close to their new target audience. Also, Allen must be cheap to afford. She’s probably agreed to pose for swag only!
Do I think it’s a wise move though? No.
I wrote an article three years back criticizing Lagerfeld’s latest designs and choices called “Il faut qu’on se parle, Karl” (“We need to have word, Karl”). Not one single magazine signed it on although I did put a lot of work in it and thought it was one of my best pieces. Funnily enough, I got a call asking me to update it but “keep the spirit and conclusion” after the last Paris Fashion week.
As much as I love Lagerfeld’s wit and wisdom, he’s not doing really great anymore. But that’s just my honest yet humble opinion.
she looks like a pug. but in a good way.
Her looks are more original than your comment. she’s pretty enough.
Wow, Bellatrix seems to believe that it’s o.k for young people to spend money, on Chanel, even though they can’t afford it. Were in a recession, but do it anyway? Because the company is struggling, and brand name is really important, even though she thinks they sell junk! And that took it took 5 1/5 paragraphs for her to get to what she thought was important, crap writing that nobody wanted. after this I can see why! 5 1/2 paragraphs is not a humble opinion.
i am abit dissappointed…i dont see that going well
There has been a major change, in the way the tabloids, and other reporters, are treating Lily Allen (meaning that it was they’re fault, not hers) She just had to lay low, well it’s working.
Thanks for sharing the link, but unfortunately it seems to be offline… Does anybody have a mirror or another source? Please answer to my post if you do!