Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively are practically dripping in Chanel in Café Society
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Since hearing Chanel played a part in the production of Café Society, we couldn’t let it go un-snooped. The film isn’t slated to release in North America until mid July, but it has already generated a lot buzz since its debut last week at the opening gala of 2016 Cannes Film Festival. With A-list leading ladies like Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively starring in a movie about the glamour of the Hollywood film industry in the 1930s, you can bet the costumes will be enviable. Oscar bait, anyone?
It’s been a while since we’ve obsessed over a film and designer collaboration. The last we recall was probably The Great Gatsby (aka Prada wonderland). While the Chanel house had no hand in designing custom looks for its ambassador K-stew, like Prada did for Carey Mulligan, costume designer Suzy Benzinger did work with the designer house to look for archival pieces suitable for the lead actress’s character.
“I couldn’t really design this film and not address Chanel. In the 20th century, Chanel was the epitome of style, luxury and glamour,” says Bezinger. “If I was to portray Café Society properly I would have to use Chanel. It is a vital part of history.”
While we can probably write an essay about Stewart’s Chanel-clad wardrobe, the chic everyday wear was not the star of the film, but actually, Chanel’s timeless jewellery pieces that adorned the likes of Stewart and Lively.
“I was lucky that Chanel also agreed to bring back pieces of jewellery inspired by ones Gabrielle Chanel had designed at the time and that were so influential in the 1930s,” explains Bezinger. “The gorgeous simplicity of Chanel’s dresses were canvasses to showcase her jewellery. The job was simple to me, put an elegant but simple dress on an actress, accessorize with a Chanel brooche or earrings and I had instant glamour. That’s the genius of Coco Chanel!”
While we’ll have to wait a couple more months until Café Society hits theatres, we’ll keep ourselves occupied by watching the trailer on repeat.
Photography courtesy of Chanel
chanel cafe society
Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg