October 20, 2015: Recently unveiled, Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel presented an enchanted journey through the House’s creativity. Held at the Saatchi Gallery, the “Mademoiselle Privé” exhibition highlights the Haute Couture, the re-editions of the High Jewellery “Bijoux de Diamants” collection created in 1932 and Chanel N°5.
“Mademoiselle Privé” begins outside the gallery with a contemporary English garden, imagined by British landscape designers Harry and David Rich. Using autumnal gold, burnt oak and silver granite in the composition, the garden is an homage to Gabrielle Chanel’s life. Visitors can walk through three parts of the garden: ‘Liberty’ evoking her desire for freedom; ‘Boy Capel’ the love of her life; and ‘Leo’ her astrological star sign and a symbol of her strength.
The garden leads into the gallery where visitors enter a space reminiscent of Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment, lined with Coromandel screens. The first of the five rooms on the gallery's ground floor revisits Gabrielle Chanel’s most symbolic places, such as 31 rue Cambon and the Place Vendôme in Paris, her first boutique in Deauville and the trips to Venice, England and Scotland that influenced her eye. The next room celebrates Gabrielle Chanel’s favourite gem, the diamond, dazzling with a brilliant, stark whiteness and the power of the precious gemstone. The adventure continues with totems which evoke the Chanel codes, symbols and icons created by Gabrielle Chanel and continued by Karl Lagerfeld. Visitors are then immersed in a sensory experience around the inimitable craftsmanship of Haute Couture. In the fifth room, the N°5 laboratory experiments with the alchemy of the revolutionary and mysterious composition of Chanel N°5, the first fragrance to ever wear the name of a fashion designer.
On the first floor, “Mademoiselle Privé” combines the magic and allure of the complete re-editions of the original 1932 “Bijoux de Diamants” High Jewellery collection with the savoir-faire of Chanel Haute Couture pieces designed by Karl Lagerfeld especially for this exhibition. Gabrielle Chanel’s one and only High Jewellery collection was first due to be exhibited in London in December 1932, but was stopped by the stringent British Custom's regulations. Eighty-three years later, the collection is finally unveiled at Saatchi Gallery. Eternally contemporary in style, the diamond pieces capture Gabrielle Chanel’s elegance and audacity. Karl Lagerfeld’s unique Haute Couture pieces work in perfect tandem with the diamond collection. The portrait gallery of 17 actresses, models and friends of the house, from Julianne Moore to Lily-Rose Depp, further enhances the relationship between the two designers. Photographed by the Karl Lagerfeld in Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment, each woman wears Haute Couture and jewels from the “Bijoux de Diamants” collection.
The “Mademoiselle Privé” exhibition ends with a ‘Jardin à la Française’. The 18th century garden is inspired by the interlocking C’s that Mademoiselle first saw in the stained-glass windows at Aubazine, the orphanage where she lived as a child. This garden combines the symbols of Mademoiselle’s childhood, the enigma and the mystery of her years at the orphanage, with Karl Lagerfeld’s knowledge and passion for the French 18th century garden.
The second floor of the gallery reveals exclusive workshops highlighting the craftsmanship and savoir-faire of the House, providing an educational programme for visitors of all ages.
Coordinates: Mademoiselle Privé, Saatchi Gallery, Duke Of York's HQ, King's Road, London
October 13 – November 1, 2015
Opening hours: from 10AM to 6PM, 7 days a week (Wednesday until 10PM)
Free admission
