Nana Komatsu for Chanel Beauty

CHANEL: Beauty Backstage Fall-Winter 2023/24

17.03.2023 | Beauty , Blog , Fashion | BY:

The CHANEL Fall-Winter 2023/24 Ready-To-Wear Collection pays tribute to the brand’s iconic white camellia motif. Imagined by Virginia Viard, this season is described to be afloat with asymmetrical silhouettes traversed by the camellia motifs, an eternal code of the brand.

The show took place in Paris’s Grand Palais Éphémère. At its centre, a larger-than-life white camellia and cinematic images of Japanese actress and House Ambassador Nana Komatsu, a spectacle directed by Inez and Vinnodh.  

Komatsu evolves within a set inspired by William Klein’s Who Are You, Polly Maggoo?, “It’s the idea of a Japanese woman in Paris, with a spirit of light-heartedness and freedom,” tells Inez and Vinnodh. “In the way she moves in the video there is a sense of wonder, a sense of displacement and belonging.”

As precise as it is profound, the makeup palette mirrored the collection.  Featuring black, white and pink tones with washes of silver on the eyelids and layers of mascara on bottom and top lashes for a fluttery effect. On the lips, nude touches of rouge to complement a sheer complexion with a matte finish.

Image courtesy of CHANEL

Virginie Viard had intended for the collection to be delicate and in motion. “The energy of the merry-go-round of wooden horses that provides the setting for Inez & Vinoodh’s film, with actress Nana Komatsu as the heroine, gave me the idea for the Bermuda short suits and the asymmetries,” she reveals.

Nana Komatsu by Inez and Vinnodh
Image courtesy of CHANEL

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The Architecture of Olfactory

10.11.2020 | Blog , Fashion | BY:

Everyone has their first memories of Chanel N°5. It’s a scent you almost hear of first, whispered and revered.

Chanel N°5 represents ultimate aspiration. Sexy and undone. It’s glamour in the most heady sense of that word. And then there’s the first electrifying memory of a family member, lover or friend – it’s never yourself who wears it first. But you know the scent, you don’t have to ask. 

“One must start from the beginning: what does N°5 have to tell us? N°5 is not a simple fragrance. It is an idea. It is an equation that was built to stand the test of time. How can we embody this idea today?” asks Thomas Du Pré de Saint-Maur, Head of Global Creative Resources for Fragrance and Beauty at Chanel.

100 years later, and the parfum continues to captivate wearers. Tasked with reimagining the next chapter for this iconic scent is a significant and exhilarating challenge. And perfect for a figure such as Thomas Du Pré de Saint-Maur, who is adept at drawing inspiration from the past and imaginatively infusing it with the present. 

He explains: “I am driven by words, literature and art. I cannot live without reading. I cannot think without speaking. Literature stimulates the imagination; the images are there indirectly. As for art, and particularly Greek and Roman antiquities, it never ceases to trigger intense emotions within me and make me question my concept of modernity and universality.”

Behind the scenes for the new CHANEL N°5 fragrance campaign, with Marion Cotillard.

Historic and renowned, as a fragrance N°5 is modern, and timeless. It always was. When initially conceptualising the scent Coco Chanel asked for “an artificial fragrance like a dress, something crafted.” She sought “a woman’s fragrance that smells like a woman”.  Then, it was a marked departure from the singular floral, natural scents that traditional perfumers had sought to evoke. Today, it is the aspirational precedent. 

Who better to represent that precedent today than Marion Cotillard, a talent who lingers in your memory as if a fragrance herself – compelling, confident and Cotillard embodies a modern myth. 

In the latest campaign, Chanel offers a welcome moment of pure, fantastical escapism. Filmed in Saint-Denis, at the Cité du Cinéma and featuring “500 square kilometers of golden moon”, the CHANEL woman embarks on an adventure to the moon and back. The film, Thomas Du Pré de Saint-Maur explains “is decidedly resonant with the present. The song by Lorde, “We are on each other’s team” echoes this perfectly.”

Back to that first evocative note of Chanel N°5. The moment of olfactory revelation. It has always been about aspiration, about the dream of who one might become, who one could become. “The power of N°5 lies in its promise” Thomas Du Pré de Saint-Maur surmises, “which is namely the ability of every woman to make things happen for herself, if she chooses to put her heart and soul into her life.”

Discover Chanel N°5 here.

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Fashion brands & companies quickly answer the calls for support during the dark times of COVID-19

24.03.2020 | Blog , Fashion | BY:

The past few weeks amidst the current health climate have been difficult for all. The necessary measures that have been put into place regarding the containment of the COVID-19 virus as local governments and health care workers fight tirelessly against rising death tolls has had an impact on all industries. The global fashion industry has of course had its major set backs with major cruise shows like Gucci, Dior, Prada & Chanel cancelling, production halting and general stocks that have been dropping. It would be an understatement to say the industry has had it’s fir share of loss amidst the crisis, especially considering the European country with the larger number of cases, is fashion and production hub — Italy . However, at the moment , many of these fashion houses and conglomerates are choosing to momentarily put aside these losses to focus on the task at hand — aiding the governments and healthcare officials in defeating the virus in the best way possible. 

In Italy — where the blow has been the hardest, many have stepped up to the plate, Prada donated two complete intensive care and resuscitation units, and launched the production of 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks for healthcare personnel following a request in the Tuscany region; Gucci also responded to the call with a donation of 1.1million surgical masks and 55,000 overall as a donation on behalf of its conglomerate Kering who has donated to four major foundation hospitals in Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany and Lazio and the brand also launched a crowdfunding campaign with the goal of 10 million and has had the WHO take over their instagram profile; Moncler has donated €10 million towards the construction of a new hospital in Milan;  Giorgio Armani has given a total of €1.25 million to numerous Italian hospitals; Versace’s Donatella and her daughter donated €200,000 to the ICU of a Milanese hospital; Sergio Rossi has donated €100,000 to a hospital; and Valentino’s parent company Mayhoola has made a donation of €1 Million towards the Italian civil protection foundation for the extraordinary efforts they’ve had to put in place as well as a donation to improve the ICU of a struggling Milanese hospital. Influencer Chiara Ferragni also managed to raise a lump sum of €4.3 Million via a GoFundMe account launched with her husband in aid of Milanese hospital San Rafaelle.

In France – LVMH is manufacturing hydroalcoholic gel /hand sanitizer via its facilities normally used to produce fragrances for Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy which they will donate 12 metric tons across Paris’ 39 public hospitals by the end of this week; conglomerate Kering has also tasked it’s fashion brands Balenciaga & Saint Laurent to manufacture surgical masks and Hermes has donated 5 million yuan to a Chinese foundation in honour of medical professionals fighting the virus. 

In Spain, Mayhoola , parent brand of Valentino, Balmain & Pal Zileri is supporting the Madrid community during this crisis by donating 1 Million EUROS, towards the expansion emergency field Hospital COVID-19 IFEMA which will become the largest hospital structure in the Madrid Community.

In the US a few brands have also been showing up for the cause, with designer Christian Siriano offering himself and team to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to aid in making face masks as well as Brandon Maxwell who has started working with his team to make masks, hospital gowns and other items that may be in short supply. 

MOSCOT optical is working in collaboration with Cherry Optical Labs to give back to emergency medical professionals in the United States by providing over  $1.5 million worth of MOSCOT frames filled with clear lenses that will help reduce exposure to airborne particles and fluid borne pathogens. 

Witnessing the industry come together on such a tragic occasion in such a way to help the community at large is a glimmer of hope during a dark time. Each brand and individual person’s  contribution has surely helped in some way or another in easing the pressure off medical professionals who are on the frontlines fighting during this dire time. For information on channels you can directly support the ongoing crisis in Italy, visit Forbes

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Chanel Cruise 2020 – Chanel et La Voyage

04.05.2019 | Blog , Fashion | BY:

Yesterday afternoon Chanel presented their first resort collection following the death of their late creative director Karl Lagerfeld. The collection’s theme: Chanel et la Voyage , was an ode to the brand’s double legacies of Karl Lagerfeld and Gabrielle Chanel and their love of train stations.

The collection organized by Artistic Director Virginie Viard, carried a theme approved by Lagerfeld, presented in their routined spot in the Grand Palais. The space was transformed to resemble the train stations of vacation spots across the world including Rome, The French Riviera,  Bombay, among others.

This inspiration for railway travel was sparked by Gabrielle and Karl’s direct love for train stations. “On August 28, 1952, I arrived at the Gare du Nord in Paris. The city seemed to me to come straight out of the movies and books that had me so fascinated. I came here to spend two years in high school, but my stay in Paris was a little prolonged, ” remembered Lagerfeld. Ms. Chanel’s fondest of the stations stemmed from both as a meeting point for herself and lover Boy Chapel, as well as a source of inspiration, “You can find all the great works in the paperbacks at train stations,” she noted.

The collection featured Chanel’s signature tweed in skirt suits with ballerina slippers and jumpers, it also saw chiffons and lace dresses ,  jacket suits worn over leggings  and bat wing sweaters. The palette was a mix of bright reds, pinks and purples with tints of black, brown, grey and navy blues. Accessories were of course in abundance with waist bags, harnesses among others. View the full collection at Chanel.

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Twin Magazine: Infinite Scroll

26.03.2019 | Blog , Fashion | BY:

In a special series of images for Twin, we unpack the idea that perfection is on the surface. In a social media age, nothing is more important than owning your best self on the inside. You know who you are: strong, powerful and empowered. That will never change, but that doesn’t mean you can’t switch it and experiment for kicks – this #betterfacechallenge is served with a wink and a smile. Online is the space to play, take ownership of the fun you can have, all the while knowing that your perfect self is in all your imperfections.

Models Moffy at Storm, Elaine at Nii, Lola at The Squad, Aoi at Tomorrow Is Another Day, Melody at The Hive, Make Up Siddhartha Simone at Julian Watson Agency using CHANEL Vision d’Asie: L’Art du Détail and CHANEL Rouge Coco Flash, Hair Anna Cofone at The Wall Group, Script/Writing Sonya Titus

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“The Coromandel Collection” – Chanel’s Ode to Madame Gabrielle C.

19.03.2019 | Blog , Fashion | BY:

Gabrielle Chanel was said to have been one who lived a figurative lacquered box where sailing ships, palaces, flowers and birds plaited in flashes of gold and deep red stood out against the darkness of light. This fantasy landscape meant so much to her that she often wished to always carry this fantasy in a portable form. This was how her love for Coromandel screens was first discovered in 1910 on a journey with her great love Boy Capel. “The first time I saw a coromandel screen, I cried out: It’s so beautiful! I had never said that about any other object,” said Madame Chanel.

The French fashion house which lives in on in her name recently chose to honour their founder’s passion with a high jewellery collection of fifty-nine pieces inspired by coromandel screens. The collection includes twenty-four pieces which are entirely unique with reworked motifs around the themes of floral, noticeably evoking her signature flower, the Camellia; animal, through the bestiary of Coromandel; and mineral, reflecting her love of crystal and gemstones.

The Fleur De Laque Necklace

The designer was undoubtedly greatly inspired by the intricacies of these Chinese Coromandels which often included art of flora and faunas. She would muse upon the screens and attach photographs and drawings to create a sort of moodboard  or theatre in which she would often immerse herself. “When I look at this screen in the evening for example,”she continued, “ I see doors opening and knights setting off on a horseback.”

At the heart of this animal theme, the workshop captures a flock of in flight birds as they appear on some of the designer’s screens in an ornament diamond right that boasts over ten carats. The collection’s gems also calls on the colours of the Coromandel lacquers which includes the greens of the Tsavorite garnet, emeralds and the over thirty-seven carat tourmaline on the “Vibration Minérale” ring; the red spinel on the “Evocation Florale” ring and the ruby beads and deep hypnotic black lacquer transposed onto the onyx. To shop or view the full collection visit CHANEL


The Évocation Florale necklace
Coco Chanel (1883-1971), couturière française. Paris, 1937.

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Twin Issue XVI

26.12.2017 | Blog , Twin Book | BY:

This spring, Issue 16 offered a study in shedding the weighty debris of expectation, and forging your own identity, under whatever guise that may take. From the renunciation of labels with model Lulu Bonfils, to redefining femininity with the creators behind MoreMuhler, and reclaiming pink with musician GIRLI, we celebrated womanhood without limits. Similarly, we discovered how family is at the core of the work done by 90-year-old artist Betye Saar, and those sentiments were echoed by fashion designer Molly Goddard, who we shadowed for a day. Elsewhere, Chanel’s hyper real version of beauty was played with, and Louis Vuitton’s artistic vision for SS17 was realised. Photographer Dexter Navy experimented with the perception of future super Jean Campbell, and posing greats Erin O’Connor and Guinevere Van Seenus made the lens their own again. Twin also delved into the world of all-girl skate culture and friendship, while director Crystal Moselle and BFF Danielle Levitt discussed the red-hot power of teenagers with passion. It was a riot.

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A loving tribute to Gabrielle Chanel

11.09.2017 | Beauty , Culture | BY:

To mark the launch of their latest fragrance, Gabrielle, Chanel brings the scent to life with a new pop-up shop on Bond Street.

Running until 24th September, the space will invite audiences to immerse themselves in the history and personality of Gabrielle Chanel; a series of events and workshops designed to unpack her rebellious nature, and how this has been conveyed through scent.

To find out more about the workshops and events on offer, and to book your place, click here.

 

 

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The Good Oil

04.04.2017 | Beauty | BY:

Chanel’s Huile De Jasmin is a beauty oil originally designed by Mademoiselle Coco Chanel herself in 1927, and has been re-released on the 90th anniversary of its launch this year. An indulgent and beautifully simple oil, it was created to aid facial massage and to smooth and protect the skin, but also presumably – judging by the delicate quality of the scent – meant as a sensorial indulgence and taste of accessible everyday luxury, then as much as it is now.

Unlike its modern-day skincare contemporaries, the oil is composed of almost entirely naturally derived ingredients (no synthetic additives or fillers), including a jasmine extract cultivated exclusively for Chanel in the fields of the perfume capital of the world – Grasse in France. The blend of natural actives and fine, non-greasy oils (including camellia, limnathes alba and jojoba) have a revitalizing effect on the skin, and work to bring a subtle radiance to all skin types… A unique approach to skincare, the product is synonymous with Chanel’s vision for modern femininity: refined and indulgent, but fuss-free – strikingly as in step with the forward thinking woman of today as it was in 1927.

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Icon Du Jour

22.03.2017 | Beauty | BY:

We’re happy to admit a certain fascination with Lily-Rose Depp, the face of the new makeup campaign for Chanel’s ROUGE COCO GLOSS, following on from her N°5 L’EAU perfume campaign debut for the brand last year.

Not many can claim a pedigree such as hers; the child of actors Johnny Depp and Vanessa Paradis, Lily-Rose is a name to know now, and not just due to her illustrious parentage and remarkable beauty (though if there is such a thing as the Genetic Lottery, this girl has the winning ticket). Having won awards for her turn as dancer Isadora Duncan in Les Danseuse last year and now enjoying the much-coveted gig with Chanel, the alluring Depp lives a thoroughly charmed life it would seem… and all at the tender age of 17.

Taking the reins at Chanel from her much-celebrated maman – who’s also been a face of the iconic brand since the 90s – it’s clear that beauty is a family affair with these two: the resemblance is more than just fleeting, making Depp an inspired choice for reaching the heritage fashion house’s younger buyers, while Paradis resonates with the more established Chanel market. Depp lends Chanel Beauty something modern, insouciant and of course, quintessentially French: watch this face.

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Women we love: Rianne Van Rompaey

11.02.2017 | Fashion | BY:

Meet Rianne Van Rompaey, the new face of Chanel Le Rogue ‘Crayon de Couleur’. The Dutch beauty has become a regular fixture on the luxury sartorial circuit, fronting campaigns for Louis Vuitton, Prada and Coach, walking for McQueen and gracing the cover and insides of a slew of international fashion publications. She was also nominated for Model of the Year in 2016 – not a bad list of accolades for a 21 year old.

The flame haired model has enjoyed a close relationship with Chanel, featuring in their catwalk shows as well as other beauty commercials. However this most recent partnership seems especially well suited, not only for the harmonious colouring of rogue and red, but also for their playful character and characteristics respectively.

At a time when beauty has never been so mesmerically unconventional, this is without a doubt the kind of campaign to fall in love with, and the kind of make-up we want now.

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Twin Issue XV

08.12.2016 | Blog , Twin Book | BY:

For Issue 15 it’s all about the pursuit of the personal, and deconstructing the concept of perfection. Photographer Thomas Giddings turns his lens on the kids of Amsterdam in homage to the Dutch Masters, while fearless artist Rachel Maclean presents the unashamed power of pink. We see Dree Hemingway cavorting with Chanel’s Cruise 2017 collection in Upstate New York, and explore the fluidity of gender in modern-day Tel Aviv. Yves Saint Laurent presents a study in beauty through the ages, artfully reworked to be the very definition of now, and we meet LA-based model-turned-musician Kacy Hill, who has recently caught the eye of Kanye West. In addition to this, Francesca Gavin takes us on a visceral MDMA trip with artist Geoffrey Farmer, and we sit down with Jane Moseley, the sex-boot wearing model who piqued Demna Gvasalia’s interest.

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So Clean, So Fresh

20.05.2015 | Beauty | BY:

Twin’s latest edition explores beauty’s new easy, breezy mood. So Fresh, So Clean sees photographer Liz Collins capture a whirlwind series of aesthetic incarnations, created together with make-up artist Niamh Quinn, exclusively using CHANEL. The message here is clear: One look no longer fits all. Whether you play with bold colour, bravely go bare faced or opt for an all-over glow, nothing says modern beauty like being true to yourself. Take a look, here.

chanel.com

 

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Chanel Revue’14

23.10.2014 | Fashion , Film | BY:

This dramatic short from director Trevor Undi beautifully documents the last two years of the House of Chanel. With an orchestral score composed by Gabriel Yared, the film showcases intimate behind the scenes footage with many a famous face. It revisits memorable campaigns, international events and spectacular archival footage from Karl Lagerfeld’s design house reminding us just how significant Coco’s legacy remains.

chanel.com

 

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A SS15 riot at Chanel

02.10.2014 | Fashion | BY:

Karl Lagerfeld, fashion innovator – and psychic? In light of current events, the Chanel fashion show on Tuesday was even more on point than usual. The Boulevard Chanel, constructed down to the very last detail including puddles and panes of glass, was the elegant backdrop to a revolution. Of course, Lagerfeld actually conceived the idea for the latest show many months ago, taking France’s love for la revolution as inspiration.

Distinct parallels can be seen with the infamous manifestations of Mai 68. Back then, the smell of both personal and political freedom was in the air, which Lagerfeld translated into his clothing for his SS15 collection. The catwalk was a riot of colour and print, with 60s and 70s style separates dominating the silhouette. The collection was not tied down to a single colour, pattern nor shape, celebrating our precious liberty and independence to choose. No doubt the feminist movement of Mai 68 would approve.

chanel.com

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KNITWEAR Chanel To Westwood

19.09.2014 | Culture , Fashion | BY:

KNITWEAR Chanel to Westwood celebrates the evolution of woollen garments this autumn at The Fashion and Textile Museum. With over 150 pieces on display, the exhibition features rare crocheted evening dresses, original faire isle jumpers and 1930’s swimwear, from the collection of Mark and Cleo Butterfield. Not only will you find designs from Rei Kawakubo for Comme des Garcon, Julien McDonald, Ossie Clark and Mary Quant, but you will also see the technical innovations taken place throughout the ages.

Accompanying the showcase is Visionary Knitwear, a look at contemporary fashion clothing from established and graduate designsers. Sandy Black, professor of Fashion and Textile Design and Technology at London College of Fashion pulls together bold designs from creative talents such as Mark Fast, Sister by Sibling, Lucas Nacimento and Julien Macdonald. Highlighting how knitwear is now daring, bold and has a sense of humour.

KNITWEAR Chanel to Westwood opens today and is open until 18th January 2015 at the Fashion and Textile Museum 83 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3XF. 

ftmlondon.org

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Chanel’s Cafe Society collection

04.09.2014 | Fashion | BY:

It seems, this season, that the world of fashion is still captivated by the roaring twenties. Chanel’s new fine jewellery collection of geometric shapes, dripping in diamonds, evokes art-deco glamour, accompanied by the romantic backstory of the legendary Gabrielle Chanel’s stratospheric social rise and her love of the ‘café society’.

Within the collection, the Symphony series, a composition of light around different diamond cuts, features a long string of jewels looking almost like bars of music. Likewise, the Charleston series’ square medallions and fringes of gemstones conjure up the elegance of days gone by.

The house of Chanel was born at a time when society was starting to rebel against puritan conventions. Arts were on the rise – the ‘cult of talent’ would create an aristocracy of taste, as poets, musicians and socialites flocked to the French Riviera to carouse in the sunshine. The decade was known for extreme extravagance – and what better way to bring it back than a collection drenched in diamonds?

chanel.com

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Choupette: The Private Life Of A High-Flying Fashion Cat

25.07.2014 | Fashion | BY:

Fashion’s most famous feline is being celebrating in a new book. Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat gives us an insight into one extrodinary kitty, one used to the finer things in life. Designers such as Goyard and Vuitton have made her dinner service, her handbags, her picnic hampers and the best Parisian chefs create menus for her. Known to travel only by private jet Choupette is a muse, not just for ‘daddy’ (her sapphire blue eyes have provided the inspration for Lagerfeld’s haute couture collections for Chanel).

The book itself is full of observations and precious advice from her vet, Madame Horn, and her housekeeper and maid, Madame Françoise, who keeps her daily diary and so this is Choupette’s complete guide to the art of living. Divided into chapters on diet, beauty, healthcare, fashion tips, secret loves and pet hates, this book also lifts the lid on the jet-setting private life of Mr Karl Lagerfeld too.

Choupette: The Private Life of a High-Flying Fashion Cat is released in September 2014. 

Pre-oder from amazon.co.uk today.

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CHANEL MÉTIERS D’ART

20.05.2014 | Fashion | BY:

When the news broke last December that Kristen Stewart would be the new face of Chanel, some thought it was an odd choice from Karl Lagerfeld. However, this behind the scene video shows the 24-year-old actress is a perfect fit for his ‘Romantic Western’ collection. Shot by Lagerfeld himself, the ad campaign sees Stewart in pieces from the Texas-inspired 2013/14 Chanel’s Métiers d’Art collection that debuted in Dallas. Watch the video below.

chanel.com

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Chanel x Monster

16.04.2014 | Fashion , Music | BY:

Over the last few weeks images of Karl Lagerfeld have been surfacing where we find the designer sporting some very cool headgear. It has now been confirmed that the collaboration between Chanel and Monster is going ahead and the first images have been released. The headphones are in keeping with the iconic Chanel aesthetic – quilted leather, double ‘C’ monogram and matching case. We are yet to know a release date, stockists or price, but hopefully we won’t be kept waiting too long.

chanel.com

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