A still from the short film. Photo: Courtesy of Chanel.
American screenwriter Sofia Coppola and Chanel go way back. What started as an internship alongside Karl Lagerfeld, has led to various memorable collaborations between Coppola and the maison. The latest one sees the director lens the French fashion house’s handbag campaign named “The Chanel Iconic” which celebrates the classic 11.12 bag.
Also known as the Chanel Flab bag, the 11.12 is a reinterpretation of the original 2.55 bag which is a classic creation brought into being by Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel in February of 1955 — hence the name 2.55. Its 11.12 iterations only rose to fame during the 1980s, when Karl Lagerfeld made his iconic additions — the unmistakable double-C clasp and a metal chain interlaced with leather.
The Coppola-directed short film showcases the quilted bag in its black and white colorways on the streets of Saint-Germain-des-Prés or on the Pont-Neuf in Paris, slung over the shoulders of actors and models Carole Bouquet, Anna Mouglalis, Zoe Adjani, Louise de Chevigny and Iman Perez. “That bag is a star, it’s such a symbol of womanhood – and makes you feel a certain way,” says Coppola. “Your first Chanel bag is an unforgettable moment, it’s a rite of passage. I wanted to focus on the bag, how it’s made, and how it makes you feel – how you notice women passing by in Paris who seem to be going somewhere and have a life… and some mystery.”
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