Chanel Colours

The first book dedicated to exploring Chanel's key colours through Gabrielle Chanel’s life and creations, bringing together iconic fashion and beauty photography curated by expert Jérôme Gautier.

Focusing on Chanel’s emblematic colours – black, beige, white, gold and red – this elegant publication collects editorial images by such esteemed photographers as Edward Steichen, Irving Penn, Peter Lindbergh, Corinne Day, Tim Walker and Sølve Sundsbø. Chanel Colours reveals the importance of colour to the fashion house over more than a century of its history, mirroring Gabrielle Chanel’s multifaceted life and diverse inspirations.

Black clothing was once associated with shop assistants and funeral attire. Gabrielle Chanel, however, saw it as a chic and modern choice. Promoting it as a versatile option in the early days of the 20th century, she firmly established it as a key colour in her repertoire with the creation of the ‘little black dress’ in 1926, redrawing the perimeters of fashion.

Gabrielle Chanel’s relationship with colour continued to evolve, with beige, white, gold and red all becoming key components in her designs – each reflecting facets of her life, vision and creative influences.

Expertly curated in five chapters of stunning visuals, Chanel Colours thoroughly explores the inspiration behind this choice of palette throughout the history of the House, from Gabrielle Chanel to her successors.