Review: The Little Black Jacket
mercredi 28 novembre 2012 
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.
Carine Roitfeld in Books, Chanel, Fashion, Karl Lagerfeld, Photography, Sarra Salib, The Little Black Jacket 
