>> We saw the first shot of Audrey Tautou as Coco Chanel early last month, but the Nov. 24 edition of Elle France had a new group of images from the set of Coco avant Chanel, which centers around Chanel's early years and modest origins. The movie — currently filming in Paris — will be released in France in May 2009, with international screenings to follow later in the year. Costumer Catherine Leterrier, who is said to have collaborated with Karl Lagerfeld, focused on showing how Chanel "was different from the ladies of her time" — "she was poor, but she had her own style." Those looking for extravagant costumes won't be disappointed, however: the film is supposed to culminate in a runway show of classic Chanel designs.
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coco avant chanel
Audrey Tautou as Coco avant Chanel: More Stills
>> INSIDER WIRE —Behold, the first production still from Coco Avant Chanel, with Audrey Tautou starring as the designer in her early years. Filming has been underway since Sept. 15 in Paris and Normandy, and the movie's release date is expected to be late 2009. Hopefully more stills will be out soon, so we can see more of those costumes Karl Lagerfeld is said to be supervising. [The Age]

Coco Avant Chanel Filming, Karl Lagerfeld There to Help
>> There are plenty of Coco Chanel biopics in the works, and Karl Lagerfeld is now involved in at least two of them.
It was announced last month that he is working with the costumer for Chanel et Stravinsky, and yesterday came the announcement that Coco Avant Chanel, which stars Audrey Tautou as the designer, will feature Chanel dresses (I assume archival) and Karl will be supervising the re-creation of costumes and accessories for the production.
It seems like Coco Avant Chanel has been in pre-production for forever — Audrey's attachment was announced last May — but the 12-week production is finally starting Sept. 15 in Paris. The movie is slated to be released in 2009, and since Warner Bros. is behind the project, expect a full-out, hopefully gratifying, film.
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Working for Rachel Comey Means Lobster Dinners and Carnival Rides
»Rachel Comey schleps her team out to Long Island house to work on her Spring 2009 collection (peeks involved!) [Refinery29]
»Vanessa Traina and Vladimir Restoin-Roitfeld are co-hosting a Boucheron gala during New York Fashion Week [FWD]
»Kate Moss's Fall 2008 Topshop collection is dropping September 9 [Topshop]
»Hana Soukupova is hosting a Victoria's Secret preview at her Sag Harbor home this weekend [FWD]
»Net-a-Porter has started stocking Halston [Fashionista]
»Alessandro Nivola has been cast to play Boy Capel opposite Audrey Tautou in Coco avant Chanel [Vogue UK]
»Sean Avery's fledgling styling business is kaput now that he's moving to Dallas [Style File]
»Which Olympian should replace Roger Federer on Anna Wintour's arm? [The Cut]
»Alice Burdeu got banged [TFS]
Chanel Movie Madness: Four Projects in the Works
>> Chanel is really looking to increase their profile through the movie route. Another film based on some portion of Coco Chanel's life has been announced: Chanel et Stravinsky, l'Histoire Secrete.
Last year, three films focusing on Coco Chanel were under way — Coco avant Chanel, starring Audrey Tautou as the designer before she became famous, is now currently filming; Director Daniele Thompson's Chanel biopic is still in the early stages, with a projected 2009 release date; and director William Friedkin's Coco & Igor, focusing on Chanel's love affair with Igor Stravinsky, is still in development.
Marina Hands has been lined up to play Coco opposite Mads Mikkelsen as Stravinsky in Coco & Igor; however, Friedkin is no longer listed as director — which brings us to the fourth, and newest, movie: Chanel et Stravinsky, l'Histoire Secrete. It, like Coco & Igor, is focusing on the relationship between Chanel and Stravinsky, and has Mads Mikkelsen playing the composer, but Anna Mouglalis is set to play Chanel, with Jan Kounen in the director's role. Are these two movies the same movie? Or are two studios just planning to go head to head?
Regardless, Chanel the brand wins in the end with all the publicity. A company spokeswoman confirmed that the house will be opening its doors to Chanel et Stravinsky's costumer, who Karl Lagerfeld will also be meeting with in coming weeks. Plus, it's worth noting that two of the women cast as Chanel have close ties to the house: Audrey Tautou is a face of the brand, and Anna Mouglalis is a muse to Karl.
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