You know, the word in the industry is that the Chanel No.5 face has been replaced. No more Nicole Kidman. The future in under French charm. Audrey Tautou – you may find her more familiar under the name “Amélie” from the Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain, Jean-Pierre Jeunet’s film (said to be the one directing the upcoming Chanel No.5 Ads too).
I look at this girl and then it suddenly hits me – she’s perfect for the Chanel No. 5 Ads! All the women of the world put together, you can hardly find more sterile femininity than Nicole Kidman’s (or Keira Knightley’s or Kate Moss’s for the matter, but unfortunately, they’ve made Coco Mademoiselle, so I can’t get into it … momentarily). Ok, maybe except for Claudia Schiffer’s (but that wax goddess too is another story). Anyway, my idea is that more Karl grows older, more his eye for feminity decrepit and thus he goes from sterile to desert-like-sterile and no wonder he ditches the iceberg – she’s an expectant mum after all, and it’s notorious that Karl doesn’t like children.
I have absolutely nothing against Audrey! By all means, I loved that Amélie fairy-tale-ish movie! But looking at her and imagining how she brings something womanly to the story is a real challenge for the eye and the mind. This little French charm number is as castrating as a crawling crab into one’s shiny leather leggings. Or maybe I’m just plain nasty and the girl-woman thing doesn’t get to me one bit. The idea behind No. 5 was to represent a strong woman, a woman of character, hence the square bottle of Chanel No.5 meant to remind a masculine fragrance recipient.
Help me out on this one – how should the Chanel No.5 Woman be like? More like a child (hence Tautou), more like an iceberg (hence Kidman)?
(via wwd)
18 comments
The Chanel 5 commercial with Nicole Kidman sticks to my mind as such a ridiculous one…..I couldn’t hardly watch it. Especially when she sighs “I love to dance”….
I’ve loved Nicole a lot as an actress before she “changed” so to speak. She played some really remarkable parts.
Karl did used once real women though. French actress Carole Bouquet and Nina Simone on the background! See it here.
And another one with Carole here.
I believe these were from the 80’s/90’s? I do regonise the first one. Must be early 90’s.
But last but not least this one with Catherine Deneuve.
I can’t help it that Audrey Tatou annoys me and I don’t even really know why? Too cute?
Although I’ve never watched Amélie, but I’ve seen Audrey’s images plenty of times. I actually don’t think she’s a bad candidate as the new face of Coco Chanel No. 5, as long as the director do a good job. :P
You folks were clearly mistaken. Nicole was never really the “face of Chanel no. 5”. If you watch her “commercial”, there was never a bottle of that perfume anywhere.
I really like the idea of having a gamine French woman represent a French perfume. It will be interesting to see how she’s transformed into a more “adult” look, but I’ll bet that, with her soulful eyes and striking resemblance to another Audrey, she’ll be lovely.
@ JustTheFacts: you made a very good point indeed the commercial with Nicole was just a Chanel commercial! But still a ridiculous one…..
Watch Hor de Prix (Priceless). There’s nothing child-like about her in that film.
@ Laura, yes, you are right! I’ve not seen that film because in The DaVinci Code -from which I’ve only seen photos and the trailer- she has nothing that’s “too cute”. I’ve seen only “Amélie? from the Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain” and another one I’ve forgotten the name of…..???
I shall keep that the tip in mind, thanks.
Isn’t she going to play Coco Chanel in a film biopic? I’m pretty sure. But at the same time being the face of Chanel 5 is still a bit too much for me. But it is probably marketing wise a good move?
Just wondering – what makes her less the face of No. 5 if no bottle wasn’t filmed in the same spot? The prints show her along with the actual promoted product, so that makes her the face of the No.5 only in layout prints but not in the commercial movie?
Laura (thanks for the idea), have already seen Hors de prix. If you look deeper into the idea, everything was childish and nothing at all in that movie (let’s not spoil it for all those who haven’t had the pleasure yet). And to be honest, I loved Gad’s performance more than Audrey’s, but they made a very credible couple.
In my mind, Chanel No. 5 was more about Coco and her ways than many other Chanel products. And since she was a very strong woman, haven’t really seen the resemblance with Audrey. Every time I look at her “soulful eyes” I get a feeling of sadness and emptiness beyond words.
Gosh, now I’ve seen the ad somewhere and can not find it anymore…..or did he the Coco ad too? Stupid I haven’t bookmarket the ad!
Yes, it shows the image of strong woman I hope its soon easier to find because I only remember it was kinda dark…….
Perhaps this picture of Coco Chanel best describes the Audrey Hepburn classic style that would be appropriate to Chanel?
Not bad, Amy! It’s a fierce woman, all strong and decided. I hope to find these ads soon enough, see if Audrey dignifies the Coco look!
That the movie- and fashion business have melt into one thing is not something I appreciate and this has taken away a lot of my movies fun…
Its not coincidental that this ad and the movie ‘Coco avant Chanel’ are gonna be launched at the same time as I’ve read!
@Amy, isn’t that a great photo? but of course it comes from a wonderful book that I happen to own. Hope you are a lucky owner yourself!
hello ok my question is since when nicole kidman start the ad of chanel 5 and how much time she last in order for audrey to start the new face for chanel 5 …. its my homework for school … somebody can answer me ?
thankssssss i apreciate it!
luv from mexico!
I love that Audrey Tatou is the New Face for Chanel. She is French. She is beautiful,sexy, she smells nice and now I know what she smells like. She is traditional, as Catherine Deneuve and Briget
Bardou. Someone you would take to Las Vegas or Venice
for a weekend.
This is her time. Congradulation Audrey Tatou. Bravo
l lave you audrey Tatou l from turkısh l twenty years old düşüncelerimi söyleyecek kadar ingilizce bilmiyorum ama sana turkçe olarak söyliyeyim seni çok seviyorum keşke tüm aşklar amelie filmindeki gibi yaşansa ama olmuyor biliyorum filmi yeni izlemiş olabilirim ama doğduğumdan beri hep böle bi aşk yaşamak istemişimdir
this is the dumbest article i’ve read in the past month.
audrey tautou is a beautiful woman and talented actress who can easily pull off an ad campaign for chanel no. 5. furthermore, chanel is just trying to reach a wider audience. and naturally, being a french fashion house, chanel would at some point want to select a french actress who has world-wide fame and appeal.
Audrey Tautou is a quality actress who shuns Hollywood millions for smaller French films she enjoys. The girl has class and intelligence and is a role model for young women.
She’s very beautiful in a normal way without being some skinny catwalk “masterpiece”. I think anyone who isn’t happy to see her do this Chanel add is, probably unwittingly, a cynic.
Audrey is a genuine person who has done superbly for herself in a quiet, dignified way. And the more success she has the more hope I will have for the young girls of tomorrow not following the influence of the trashy Paris Hlltons of this world.
very like her. so beautiful！
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