Coco Chanel

Description

Here is a distinctly unique look at the woman who transformed twentieth century fashion. No stranger to photographing some of the world's most beloved icons, including Man Ray, Marilyn Monroe, and Judy Garland, among countless others, Douglas Kirkland fixed his lens on Chanel for twenty-one days in 1962. Sent to Paris on assignment for Look magazine, Kirkland ended up living with Chanel for three weeks, catching both the public and the intimate moments of Chanel's daily life. This collection of never-before-seen photographs is as staggeringly beautiful as it is an impassioned portraiture, shedding new light on one of the great stories of the modern age. Not just a record of Kirkland's impressions of 'Mademoiselle,' this book also features a compelling foreword by literary giant Judith Thurman, who poignantly contextualises the relationship between Kirkland and Chanel, making this book every bit as incomparable as Mademoiselle herself.

Author description

Douglas Kirkland is one of the best-known and longest working photographers of our time. He began on assignment for 'Look' and 'Life' magazines, where he photographed such icons as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Marlene Dietrich. He has also photographed on the sets of over 100 motion pictures, many of them iconic. Kirkland has been named 'Photographer of the Year' (PMDA) and 'Mentor of the Year' (Fotofusion). He lives in Los Angeles, California with his wife and business partner, Francoise. Judith Thurman writes primarily about fashion, its personages, trends, and history. She began contributing to 'The New Yorker' in 1987, and became a staff writer in 2000. She has won several awards, including the 1983 National Book Award for Nonfiction.