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Launch Editor ZOE FOSTER

How To: Audrey Tautou in Coco Avant Chanel

Fri, 19 June 2009 7:35AM

I saw this film, (translation, Coco before Chanel) the other night and loved it so much that I intend to spend much of Sunday finding a wonderful, stylish, crisp white shirt so that I may emulate CC’s signature man-style look, which when you see the movie, will understand how it originated. (Chanel ain’t all pearls and pink blazers, baby.)

But on with it!

How To: Audrey Tautou in Coco Avant Chanel

Don’t wear any makeup.
Grow out your eyebrows.
Pop on a straw hat.

Seriously. That’s Gabrielle (Coco was her nickname) Chanel’s take on hair and makeup for the majority of the film. You have to remember that she was fighting the establishment at a time women were overdressed, corseted, wore ridiculous, fluffly, lacy hates and dripped with trinkets and jewelry, and her low-fi take on cosmetics and hair was a reflection of that.

Here’s a shot of Ms Tautou from the film, wearing more makeup than what she really did in the film for the sake of a publicity still, but you’ll get the idea. Her hair was very long, and wavy and always looked kind of fluffy and freshly-washed but was usually either pinned up and jammed under a hat, or casually pinned into a bun up like this. There’s something to be said (“hooray”?) for that freshly-washed fluffiness. Or maybe I’m confused and there’s nothing to be said for it, only Tautou makes everything look chic, rather like the character she played.

It was only later in her life, when she moved to Paris and opened her boutique that Coco chopped the mop and had her stylish wavy, brushed-back bob, (and started wearing her trademark red lipstick) that we all think of when we think of Coco Chanel.

To get the no fuss French girl look, go for a lightweight foundation with a semi-matte finish (try Clinique Almost Makeup) run some tinted brow gel through your brows to get them a bit thicker and bushier (Try Benefit Speed Brow) and dab on a teeny bit of red lip/cheek stain on your lips. (Try Pop Beauty Apple of The Cheeks) Voila! Tres bon!

And finally, to finish a fun comparison image of Coco and Audrey.

Honestly, could anyone else have played the role of Coco Chanel but Audrey Tautou? Aside of Denzel Washington?

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8 Comments

  • Posted by: laurenb Enthusiast // Fri, 19 June 2009 08:02am

    Good grief Zoe, why are you posting so early?

    Also, I do agree that Audrey is the perfect Chanel. She makes everything look so effortless and gorgeous. Its not fair.

  • Posted by: ZF // Fri, 19 June 2009 08:14am

    But laurenb, what if I waited til after 9 to post, and at 8.35 someone knocked back an offer to go striped t-shirt and lip stain shopping because they hadn’t yet read this post? I couldn’t live with myself.

  • Posted by: balleballe Newbie // Fri, 19 June 2009 09:46am

    Luv simplicity in style!
    Btw I think Audrey Tautou looks NOTHING like Coco Chanel..not a bit. Not the teensiest.

    The least they could’ve done would be a fake nose? {Like Nicole Kidman when she played Virginia Woolf}

  • Posted by: Donna // Fri, 19 June 2009 11:06am

    I hate to be the wet blanket but there is nothing to be said for freshly washed unstyled hair, at least not for me. It’s a case of a little bit of grooming goes a long way.

  • Posted by: erinclaire86 Newbie // Fri, 19 June 2009 01:06pm

    I won tickets to that premiere but couldn’t go, sounds like it was great though! Love Chanel’s style.

  • Posted by: ponikuta // Fri, 19 June 2009 02:52pm

    Definitely can’t wait to watch the movie.
    Seriously how can any girl miss this?

    Effortless chic & beauty at its best!

  • Posted by: laurenb Enthusiast // Sun, 21 June 2009 09:55pm

    You’re right Zoe, of course.
    I wish I had been invited striped t-shirt and lip stain shopping on Friday. Although I did receive my order of Posietint that I ordered on Friday morning, so I guess I’m halfway there.

  • Posted by: ZF // Sun, 21 June 2009 11:43pm

    Found: Excellent blue and white striped long sleeve tee at Remo, on Bondi road. And, on sale for only $49! I bought mine today. Remo, of course, are famous for their classic striped tee. Buy online at Remo general store dot com. EPIC (STRIPED) WIN.

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