(Image Above: Clockwise from left – lelamoda.com, popmatters.com, list.co.uk, filmofilia.com)

I’ve been anticipating seeing the French film, Coco Before Chanel, for months now, so I was very excited when my coworker, Aire, told me it was finally coming to a theater in Pittsburgh. If you haven’t heard of the film yet, it follows the life of Coco Chanel before she became well-known – from her humble beginning as an orphan to her rise as a designer. The film was the perfect mix of romance, glamor, and intrigue. I wasn’t even so much concerned with whether the facts were straight (I guess Chanel was known for telling many conflicting stories about her life) as I was with enjoying the rich images of French mansions and lovely dances.

Keep reading for more about Coco Before Chanel!

Chanel was played by Audrey Tautou who seemed the perfect fit for the part, with her emotion-filled dark brown eyes and adorable screen presence. She moved across the set ripping corsets out of dresses and removing feathers from hats, and we were able to see the transformation of her style as the film progressed.

I was really inspired by the costuming in the film, especially in some of the later scenes where her outfits more reflected the aesthetic we know and love as Chanel. Scenes where she strutted around in menswear made me want to wear a tuxedo shirt. In fact, every shot inspired me! So for this post I’ve picked a few items that reminded me of those Audrey wore in the film.

(Image Above: Shoe No. 5, Styled to a T Skirt, Should I Stay or Should I Bow, Sheer Madness Top)

If you haven’t seen this movie yet – go and see it, or if it’s not playing in your town, watch it when it comes out on DVD. I really loved it. I hope you do too!