Uninspired by the rigid, narrow-minded sartorial options of her time, Gabriella "Coco" Chanel's mission was to redefine womenswear. And so the Little Black Jacket was born – a loose-fitting, dynamic tweed option that rapidly replaced the stiff blazer in wardrobes everywhere. It has since become one of the most iconic fashion pieces in history, with an impressive celebrity following.
To celebrate the timeless garment's 60 year anniversary, some of the most stylish women in the world have modelled the coveted item for the brand’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld — with different but equally stunning results. Wearing a playful smile, Sarah Jessica Parker throws the jacket on top of her gem-encrusted crown. "You have to earn a garment like this," the actress said in an accompanying interview. "I would even go so far as to say that I hope no one could get one by chance. "Some people would call it a work of art. It's something to covet, to dream about. You tell yourself that one day, perhaps, you will have the chance to own one. "Now that I have one and am wearing it, it's something I value enormously. I think I am very lucky." Kirsten Dunst also posed with the jacket, casually flinging hers over her shoulder as she rocked a leopard print bralet.
"You can go anywhere in a Chanel jacket," says the Spider-Man actress. "You’ll always look beautiful. When you have the opportunity to own something so luxurious, you don’t say no. "You have to pass it on to the next generation." Charlotte Casiraghi, meanwhile, opted for a more demure look with her jacket, pairing it with a leather skirt and a garland of white roses. Mr. Lagerfeld has taken more than 100 pictures to celebrate the beauty of women modelling this classic garment. Alexa Chung, Uma Thurman, Claudia Schiffer and Poppy Delevingne have also been snapped for the campaign.Showcased in exhibitions in Tokyo, New York, Tapei, Hong Kong and at the Saatchi Gallery in London, his pictures have, in collaboration with former French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, been turned into a book — The Little Black Jacket: Chanel's Classic Revisited. "Chanel made the jacket iconic by wearing it herself," he said. "It reflected her life and her rebellious attitude."Read the full report in HELLO! Magazine, issue 1248, out now.