22.12.2010- Scenta Claus

You always know Christmas isn't far away when you suddenly see perfume being promoted during the ad break of nearly every television programme you stumble across, regardless of how cheap and nasty said programme may be when compared to the rather more sophisticated fragrance. This kind of clever product placement also gives us all the chance to elbow our parents/boyfriend/neighbour/cat, oh so subtly hinting that we might just be needing some new more eau de toilette loveliness for Christmas. And, when you're sitting on the sofa in your pyjamas, hair askew and with your novelty slippers on, a little touch of designer magic in the ad break of Corrie does have a way of making you feel slightly less slob and slightly more chic. So, to celebrate this, and to get you feeling even more festive, I've put together a selection of my favourite perfume adverts:

Chanel No. 5, starring Audrey Tautou

  

Directed by Jean Pierre Jeunet, and starring the beautiful Audrey Tautou who was the quintessential Coco in Coco Before Chanel, this advert was filmed on the Orient Express and features the beautiful vocals of Billie Holiday. The amber-filtered images look like they're being view through a bottle of Chanel No. 5, and I think this beautiful advert really captures the essence of what the scent is all about; mystery, romance and classic style. Plus I much prefer it to its predecessor, which, in spite of the fact that it was the most expensive advert ever made, feels slightly tacky if you ask me!

Flora by Gucci

The inner hippy in me adores this advert, shot by Chris Cunningham. Take Abbey Lee Kershaw, a sun-drenched field full of flowers and a haunting remix of Donna Summer's I Feel Love, add a touch of Gucci magic and you've got an advert which will make you long for summer even more.

Miss Dior Chérie

Sofia Coppola captures the magic of Paris for this Dior advert, set to Brigitte Bardot's Moi je joue. The pastel hues and cine-film feel give the advert a really quirky lightness. If wearing Miss Dior Chérie means I can run away to Paris, take in the sights and shop until I drop, then I think I'll definitely have to put some on my wish list. Dior have also recently announced that Natalie Portman is to be the new face of Miss Dior Chérie, so I can't wait to see how Natalie's advert compares. 

Liv Tyler, Very Irresistible Givenchy

  

  
From 2003, this black and white advert feels more like a short film, as we see Liv capturing the fun and elegance of Givenchy's Very Irresistible fragrance, which remains one of my favourite perfumes. Classic and tres chic, non?

  
Keira Knightley, Coco Mademoiselle

This beautifully shot advert sees Keira cavorting around in the streets of Paris, with a starring part in her very own film romance. The Joss Stone cover of L.O.V.E which plays in the background always has me singing along, and again I love the classic feel of this ad.  

What do you think? What's your favourite? And are you hoping for any perfume for Christmas? 

(Video credit: Youtube.)

14.06.2010- Resort Shows

Here are my favourites from the 2011 Resort Collections so far (excluding Chanel, who I blogged about back in May here.)

Christian Dior

 An ultra-feminine collection from Galliano, with a distinct 60's flavour; bold lips, baby-doll dresses and beehives. 

Zac Posen

 Adore the simple pale colours and elegant lines.

Erin Fetherstone

 Simple monochrome styling, perfection.

Louis Vuitton

 A continuation of Fall's experimentation with feminine shapes.

Marc Jacobs

 Another really feminine, wearable collection; the dresses are so so cute in muted summer hues. Love the styling with the sun hats as well. 

Which resort collections are your favourites so far? 

(Image credit: style.com.)

15.03.2010- Paris, je t'aime.

Final fashion week post until September when the craziness will kick off in style once more, here are my Paris picks:

Alexander McQueen

 A truly luxurious collection, which stands as a tribute to and as the legacy of the unparalleled creativity and ingenuity of McQueen.

Miu Miu

 I really liked the way that this collection featured texture and the juxtaposition of the muted pastels with bright flashes of orange. 

Valentino

 Very understated pieces from the Valentino show, adore the scalloped hems and black on nude lace details. 

Chloé

Simple, clean and minimalist, this collection proved that less really is more. 

Chanel

 When I saw the first shots of the Chanel collection, I was horrified at the yeti style outfits which consisted a considerable proportion of the looks and thought that I would hate the rest of the collection. This then, proves that first impressions can be deceptive, as when I looked at the rest of the pieces, I found some more traditionally 'Chanel' looks later in the show that I just adored. Again, I really like the interesting use of texture in this collection, and the way that the classic monochrome aesthetic has been updated through styling the dresses with white woollen tights. 

Giles

 I adored this collection, with the 60's inspired styling and cute, feminine dresses. How amazing is the bag in the final shot? Want one!

Stella McCartney

Less is more for Stella, the elegance and sophistication of these pieces really shines through thanks to how simply they have been styled on the runway.

Celine

Beautiful lines, yet more minimalist chic.

Balmain

 Very much a continuation of previous Balmain collections, with the shoulder pad detailing and party perfect sequin dresses; the combination of lilac and gold is divine. And, as they say, if it ain't broke...

Balenciaga

 I really love the pastel hues in this collection, and the pieces feel both wearable and youthful. 

Christian Dior

Loved Dior, particularly the hair and make up and Galliano's use of colour, fresh, crisp tones and long lines give this collection a classic feel, nodding to the shapes of the 20's and 30's. 

So that's it! What were your favourites from Paris? And which shows were your favourites of all? 

(Image credit: style.com.)