Daily Front Row

2009 March 11

Another Chanel Party

Comments | | Print

Karl Lagerfeld
View Gallery

(PARIS) The Chanel runway extravaganza might have featured an elaborate set and an audience of thousands, but only a few select souls had access to Coco Chanel’s apartment at the brand’s timeless Rue Cambon location. Karl Lagerfeld helped friend Jefferson Hack celebrate Another Fashion Book in the relatively intimate evening event that featured familiar faces in the hidden, historic spaces. “I’ve been told that this is the first time Coco’s space was ever opened for a party,” said a clearly impressed Hack. “People had private tours of it though. And it’s the most beautiful room of antiques and painted wallpapers. I haven’t seen it in any capacity at all [before tonight].” The editor couldn’t believe his eyes when he saw his book resting on Chanel’s personal desk. “Please, someone take a picture before they remove this!”

Lagerfeld didn’t want to--at least, not for the moment. “This book is a nice thing,” he said from the heavily guarded living room. “Truthfully, no one keeps magazines anyway. They wind up in a trash at some point.” And how often does Lagerfeld come to the historic four-room space? “I never come here alone. Sure, there’s some photographs here that I like but it’s a like a haunted castle for me!” he said. “I might stop by with people that I like and admire.” Luckily, it was happening on this special night, when Kate Moss smoked in Chanel’s dining room while conversing with Suzy Menkes and Stefano Tonchi, and the likes of Charlotte Casiraghi, Craig McDean, Kate and Laura Mulleavy, Rachel Zoe, and Anouck Lepere were also all ushered into the apartment after partying downstairs.

Below the famed mirrored staircase Michel Gaubert and Milla Jovovich took turns at the turntables, and while the video screens played the Chanel show, champagne was flowing for guests including  Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, Elise Øverland, and Erin Fetherston. Lily Allen didn’t even need to go upstairs. “I’ve been spoiled by Chanel before,” she happily said. “I’ve actually visited Coco’s studio a few times in the past, so I’m sort of a veteran here.” The surprise guest of the night was none other than Stefano Pilati, who watched the replay of the show in awe. “Karl is in his own league,” he offered. “But I don’t think I can ever show in a space this huge. My clothes probably look better from up-close than afar. But we both have tremendous love for what we do. You have to in these times!”

As the night wound down, and Freida Pinto’s first Parisian experience was coming to an end, she had a proposition for Lagerfeld and his faithful entourage of Sébastian Jondeau, Brad Koenig, and Baptiste Giabiconi. “So, Karl when you’re in India, I’ll give you boys a tour you’ll never forget in your life,” she said. “Darling! We’ll take you up on the offer,” smiled Lagerfeld before snapping a group photo.
VALENTINE UHOVSKI