The fashion house teamed up with opening film Jeanne du Barry focusing on the liberated mistress of King Louis XV
As the 2023 Cannes Film Festival begins, CHANEL has teamed up to support women in film as the exclusive partner of Jeanne Du Barry, by the renowned actress and filmmaker Maïwenn. The film features six costumes designed and created by CHANEL, hats by Maison Michel, the use of CHANEL High Jewelry, and CHANEL Parfums-Beauté. CHANEL has long been a supporter of cinema and the arts, just as the subject of the film, Jeanne du Barry—the final mistress of King Louis XV.
The film was presented out of competition, as the opening film of the Cannes Festival on May 16th, the day of its general release in cinemas. It features director Maïwenn, in the role of Jeanne du Barry, accompanied by Johnny Depp who plays the King of France.
Jeanne du Barry was a modern woman in her time, in order to reflect her sense of liberation through fashion Maïwenn did extensive research on wardrobe. She was ultimately interested in several Haute Couture collections designed by Karl Lagerfeld. The late Lagerfeld was notoriously inspired by the Age of Enlightenment, which is why Maïwenn was so drawn to CHANEL. “When preparation for the film began, I had so much documentation, including CHANEL pieces from collections of the 1980s and 90s, inspired by the 18th century,” she explains in the press release. “That’s why I wanted to collaborate with Virginie Viard on this project.”
The film also includes the most emblematic re-edition of the “Bijoux de Diamants” collection created by Mademoiselle Chanel herself in 1982, which at the time of its launch was considered very scandalous. Interestingly, Gabrielle Chanel and du Barry share the same birthday, August 19th.
“We tried to find a just and contemporary way of doing things by working with the energy that animates us in 2023,” adds Jürgen Doering, the costume designer who worked alongside the creative director of CHANEL, Viard, to revise pieces certain pieces to suit the film. “I don’t like it when things get too stuck on references, paintings or history books. I want to escape these closed worlds and try to transcribe the era with a breath of fresh air. The collaboration with CHANEL made it possible to add great accuracy to the character’s costumes, with a very nuanced and subtle approach, and without playing with discrepancy for discrepancy’s sake.”
The collaboration comes at a pertinent time for women in film, as they continue to look for more representation and support in the industry. The 76th Cannes Film Festival will run from May 16-27th in Cannes, France.
Imagery courtesy of Chanel
