Sofia Coppola's 'The Chanel Iconic' Pays Tribute To The 11.12 Handbag

A new digital film titled The Chanel Iconic, shot by filmmaker and longtime Chanel collaborator Sofia Coppola, pays homage to the iconic 11.12 handbag. The film follows friends of the house—Anna Mouglalis, Carole Bouquet, Iman Perez, Zoé Adjani and Louise de Chevigny—as they walk in the streets of Paris with their 11.12.

A reinterpretation of Gabrielle Chanel's classic 2.55 bag introduced in February 1955, the 11.12 was created by Karl Lagerfeld when he joined the maison as creative director in the early '80s and has since acquired iconic status among fashion insiders and celebrities alike. While both versions feature points de bride stitches and diamond-patterned quilting, the updated version differentiates itself from its predecessor by way of a double-C twist clasp, an adjustable metal chain interlaced with leather, and seven functional pockets.

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In Coppola's words: “That bag is a star, it’s such a symbol of womanhood - and makes you feel a certain way. Your first Chanel bag is an unforgettable moment, it’s a rite of passage. I wanted to focus on the bag, how it’s made, and how it makes you feel - how you notice women passing by in Paris who seem to be going somewhere and have a life… and some mystery.”

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“This is my first collaboration with Chanel. It’s a real honour for me, I’ve always dreamt of working for this House and I’ve always been a huge admirer of Sofia Coppola and her work. She has captured the beauty of Paris by highlighting the beauty of the bag.”
— Iman Perez

“We’re several actresses in this campaign, from different generations, and it’s this handover that’s so interesting and that reveals how each of us have our own style, our own universe, and how we find ourselves in this bag. The bag becomes part of an experience, it's an accessory for life. Sofia Coppola has brought out the personality of each of us through this bag. It slots into multiple realities.”
—Zoé Adjani

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