Kristen McMenamy’s Life As A Chanel Muse (2024)

“She is modern fashion, which is not to be obsessed with beauty but with life, personality, vitality,” Karl Lagerfeld declared of Kristen McMenamy in 1993.

The Chanel designer was one of the first to spot the talent of British Vogue’s January 2022 cover star, labelling her “the new face of beauty” in the ’90s. McMenamy promptly joined fellow supers Claudia Schiffer, Linda Evangelista, Christy Turlington, Kate Moss and Stella Tennant in the pantheon of Chanel muses, consistently bringing her edgy persona (and ever-evolving hairstyles) to the house’s ready-to-wear and couture presentations.

In the years since Kristen met Karl, she’s been draped in Chanel’s signature chains, modelled its bouclé tweed, worn its double-C sunglasses and carried its many It-bags everywhere from New York to Paris. In 2011, she even made a return to the catwalk as one of Lagerfeld’s famed couture brides – an especially poignant moment given that the Chanel patriarch walked her down the aisle at her first wedding, to photographer Miles Aldridge, in London in 1997.

In honour of the January 2022 cover, revisit Kristen McMenamy’s greatest Chanel moments through the years, below.

Kristen McMenamy’s Life As A Chanel Muse (2024)

FAQs

What is Chanel Muse? ›

Misia Sert is best known as a pianist and muse. Sert and Chanel met at a dinner party in 1917 and quickly became close friends. After Capel's passing, Sert consoled Chanel and brought her to Venice to meet Sergei Diaghilev, another one of Chanel's muses.

Who is Karl Lagerfeld favorite female model? ›

"My favorite girl of the moment is a Dutch girl called Luna," Karl said, referring to Luna Bijl, who walked with the 84-year-old icon to close Tuesday's show. "There are people I call my Choupettes.

Who was the face of Chanel at 13? ›

Kimora Lee Simmons

At the age of 13, Simmons was awarded an exclusive modeling contract with Chanel, working closely with Lagerfeld in the Nineties and closing his haute couture show in 1989.

Who was the last face of Chanel? ›

Aussie actress Robbie was famously the last Chanel muse to be commissioned by Lagerfeld before his February 2019 passing.

What does it mean to be a muse for a brand? ›

In thinking of the muse in a marketing context, though, lets think of a brand muse as someone who inspires the marketers to do their best, most innovative work. There's levels to this and having a muse gets you to a higher level.

Who is the face of Chanel 2023? ›

Discover Chanel's SS23 campaign starring actress Kristen Stewart lensed by Inez and Vinoodh. Luxury house CHANEL unveiled its Spring Summer 2023 campaign starring actress and the brand's ambassador Kristen Stewart lensed by fashion photography duo Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

Who is the female face of Chanel? ›

Marion Cotillard Shines in the Latest Chanel N°5 Campaign Film.

Who is the face of Chanel model? ›

Plus, more of the season's best ads. If Fall 2021 was all about new beginnings, then it's only right that Spring 2022 continues the trend.

Who is Dior's favorite model? ›

Lucie Daouphars (1922-1963) was a French fashion model known as Lucky, who worked extensively for Christian Dior and Jacques Fath. Lucky was Dior's favourite model.

Who is the youngest Chanel ambassador? ›

She's the youngest global CHANEL ambassador ever

At 16 years old, Lily-Rose became the youngest global CHANEL ambassador when she fronted an eyewear campaign. Since then, she's starred in a slew of CHANEL Beauty ads and been both a seasoned front row fixture and model at the French Maison's legendary shows.

How much do Chanel models get paid? ›

The estimated total pay for a Fashion Model at Chanel is $38 per hour.

Who is the most famous Chanel model? ›

The 10 most iconic faces of Chanel
  • Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington. Brand: Chanel Boutique. Date: 1991. ...
  • Stella Tennant. Brand: Chanel Boutique. Date: 1996 - Present. ...
  • Kate Moss. Brand: Coco Mademoiselle Chanel. Date: 2001 - 2005. ...
  • Nicole Kidman. Brand: Chanel No.5. Date: 2004. ...
  • Jerry Hall. Brand: Chanel Accessories. Date: 2009.
Dec 11, 2013

Who takes care of Chanel now? ›

Virginie Viard (born 1962) is a French fashion designer who has been the creative director of Chanel since 2019.

What was Coco Chanel's last words? ›

Before she passed away, Coco Chanel took a walk with one of her friends before retiring to her hotel room. "You see, this is how you die," Coco Chanel addressed her maid as her last line before closing her eyes forever. These were Coco Chanel's last words according to The Guardian.

Who inherited Chanel's money? ›

Since then the ownership of Chanel has been passed down for generations in the Wertheimer family, first to Pierre's son Jacques, and then to Alain and Gerard. Little is known about the brothers who now own the brand, but they own several vineyards across France and are enthusiastic equestrians.

What makes a woman a muse? ›

A muse, in the most basic sense, is a person who serves as an inspiration to an artist. The word itself dates back to Greek mythology, with Zeus' daughters forming the nine Muses who presided over the arts and science.

What are the qualities of a muse? ›

Each of the Muses is lovely, graceful and alluring, and gifted with a particular artistic talent. The Muses delight the gods and human beings with their songs, dances, and poems and inspire human artists to greater artistic achievements. In legend, the Muses were variously described as living on Mt. Olympus, Mt.

What is the job of a muse? ›

A muse, in the most basic sense, is a person who serves as an inspiration to an artist. The word itself dates back to Greek mythology, with Zeus' daughters forming the nine Muses who presided over the arts and science.

Who is the nose of Chanel? ›

On the eve of its launch, Vanity Fair beauty director SunHee Grinnell spoke to Jacques Polge, the revered Chanel nose who created the scent.

Was Marilyn Monroe a Chanel ambassador? ›

Although she did not appear in ads for Chanel No. 5 during her lifetime, Marilyn Monroe may have been the perfume's best ambassador. In 1952, when asked by Life magazine what she usually wore to bed, she famously responded that she wore nothing but the fragrance.

Who is the first face of Chanel No 5? ›

Coco Chanel was the first face of the fragrance, appearing in the advertisem*nt published by Harper's Bazaar in 1937.

Why is Kristen Stewart the face of Chanel? ›

She was also the face of the GABRIELLE CHANEL fragrance. “It's her real name, before she found Coco,” Kristen has said of founder Gabrielle Chanel. “A woman like that, who was trying to be different and trying to do things that people didn't necessarily view as beautiful and she challenged that.”

What does it mean to be a Chanel girl? ›

There's two sides to the Chanel Girl – sweet and classy, then sexy and luxurious. Overall though, she is coquette-ish, delicate and has an all-around Parisian aesthetic to her. She greets everyone politely and always hugs them goodbye.

Are Chanel sisters real? ›

It's a historical fiction story written from the unique perspective of Coco Chanel's younger sister, Antoinette.

How tall do Chanel models have to be? ›

Stats (measurements) for female models in Paris should be 5' 9" to 6' tall (5'10-5'10 ½ is even better) with bust, waist and hip measurements of 34-23-33. Male models should be at least 6' to 6' 2" and wear a 38 to 40 Regular jacket.

Who is the new face of Chanel 2022? ›

Simplicity and sophistication — actress and House ambassador Margaret Qualley is the face of the CHANEL COCO BEACH 2022. Patron of the Paris Opera Ballet, CHANEL reaffirms its support for creation on the occasion of the dance Gala in tribute...

What is Chanel's brand identity? ›

The Coco Chanel logo is a mix of simplicity, class, and minimalism, which has helped the fashion house establish its brand identity. Coco Chanel's philosophy of “less is more” can be seen in her designs and logo.

Who is the female face of Dior? ›

Natalie Portman has been the face of Miss Dior, the French luxury house's signature floral fragrance, since 2011 with the release of Miss Dior Chérie.

Who is the most famous Dior ambassador? ›

1. Jimin. Park Jimin, K- Pop Star singer, dancer, songwriter, dancer & a member of the boy band BTS is now the global ambassador of Dior.

Who is the face of Dior beauty? ›

Yara Shahidi becomes the new face of Dior Forever Foundation.

Do Chanel ambassadors get paid? ›

The estimated total pay for a Brand Ambassador at Chanel is $50,214 per year. This number represents the median, which is the midpoint of the ranges from our proprietary Total Pay Estimate model and based on salaries collected from our users. The estimated base pay is $35,761 per year.

How much does Chanel ambassador get paid? ›

Brand Ambassador salary in Chanel ranges between ₹ 4.4 Lakhs to ₹ 4.4 Lakhs per year.

Who only wore Chanel No. 5? ›

Marilyn Monroe famously confessed in a 1952 interview that she wore “five drops of Chanel No. 5” and nothing else in bed, and can't you just hear her say it in her breathy voice? It's not just Monroe—the scent has been associated with women from Catherine Deneuve to Nicole Kidman.

Who is the number 1 model in the world? ›

This 2022, Kendall Jenner has been declared, once again, the highest-paid model and along her, some of the biggest names in fashion including Liu Wen, Cara Delevingne and more.

What benefits do Chanel employees get? ›

Benefits Summary for Chanel, Inc.
  • Health Insurance.
  • Life Insurance.
  • Dental Insurance.
  • Vision Insurance.
  • Temporary Disability Insurance.
  • Long-term Disability Insurance.
  • Severance Pay.
Nov 28, 2022

What are the highest paid jobs at Chanel? ›

Highest Paying Jobs At CHANEL

The higher paying positions at CHANEL include group director, lead designer, head designer, and senior web developer. A typical group director salary at CHANEL is $177,687.

What is Chanel's most famous item? ›

Arguably the most famous Chanel purse of all time, the 2.55 Flap bag is a timeless icon.

Is Chanel more famous than Gucci? ›

Chanel (because that's the brand we are talking about) debuted in 23rd place as the second most valuable luxury fashion brand in the world. As a result, Gucci (no. 39) and Hermès (no. 32), despite massive growth, held just the fourth and third positions respectively and Louis Vuitton (no.

Who is the most fashionable model? ›

Here is the list of the top 10 models in the world:
  • Kendall Jenner.
  • Gigi Hadid.
  • Barbara Palvin.
  • Cara Delevingne.
  • Bella Hadid.
  • Miranda Kerr.
  • Emily Ratajkowski.
  • Taylor Hill.

Why is Chanel so loved? ›

She loved simple, yet practical pieces. Her items are meant to last and meant to be worn through many decades. For this reason, Chanel's products are made with the highest quality materials and by the best craftsmen in the industry based Europe only.

How much does the creative director of Chanel make? ›

The average CHANEL Creative Director earns an estimated $176,421 annually, which includes an estimated base salary of $152,365 with a $24,056 bonus. CHANEL's Creative Director compensation is $35,709 more than theaverage for a Creative Director. Creative Director salaries at CHANEL can range from $75,000 - $335,000.

Is Chanel still family owned? ›

Chanel is a privately held company owned by Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, grandsons of Pierre Wertheimer, who was an early business partner of Coco Chanel. Its products cover clothes, fragrances, handbags and watches.

What is Coco Chanel's most famous quote? ›

"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable."

What is Coco Chanel's famous saying? ›

"A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous."

Who is Chanel's best friend? ›

My BFF's are everything to me! That's why I LOVE the story of Misia Sert and Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel. When they met each other, during a dinner party in 1917, that was it.

How much money did Karl Lagerfeld leave his cat? ›

It has emerged that the late fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has left some of his $200m (£153m) fortune to his cat. The German designer, who was the creative director for Chanel and Fendi, died in Paris on Tuesday.

How much are tickets for Chanel show? ›

Gabrielle Chanel Fashion Manifesto will run from 5 December 2021 to 25 April 2022 on the ground floor of the National Gallery of Victoria. Tickets will cost $30 for adults, $10 for children and $28 concession. NGV Gallery members can purchase tickets for $25.

What does muse mean in modeling? ›

Many designers use multiple muses for inspiration, but there is almost always one SPECIFIC MUSE that originally inspired the designer to become the creative artist they are today. A muse helps talented people to grow so we've decided to look at four fashion designers and the muses that inspired them.

Is Jennie a Chanel muse? ›

In addition to the music industry, Kim has become a muse for both fashion and beauty labels such as Chanel. She often wears the label in Blackpink's music videos, and in her everyday life.

What is a muse celebrity? ›

Behind many great artists is often a muse who sparks their creative inspiration. Besides being a source of artistic passion and the subject of the artist's creative process and works of art, a muse is often the artist's lover too.

Who is Louis Vuitton muse? ›

Discover the Spirit of Travel campaign now at louisvuitton. @bellahadid, @gisele, @feifeisun, @karliekloss, @heconghc, and @anokyai for #LVxYayoiKusama.

Does a muse get paid? ›

How much does a Muse make? As of Feb 18, 2023, the average annual pay for a Muse in the United States is $35,841 a year.

What are the characteristics of a muse? ›

Each of the Muses is lovely, graceful and alluring, and gifted with a particular artistic talent. The Muses delight the gods and human beings with their songs, dances, and poems and inspire human artists to greater artistic achievements. In legend, the Muses were variously described as living on Mt. Olympus, Mt.

Who is the queen of Dior in K-pop? ›

Jisoo was an important global ambassador for the legendary fashion house Dior. The South Korean star elegantly brought Dior's modernity and passion to life as a muse for the luxury brand's collection across all genres.

Who is the queen of outfit in K-pop? ›

How Blackpink's Jennie became K-pop's fashion queen: from 'Human Chanel' to Boucheron muse and that viral hairpin look – 4 times the Korean idol proved she's a serious style icon.

Does a muse have to be a lover? ›

A muse might be a lover, a friendly infatuation, or maybe even a stranger the artist never even speaks to. It's usually assumed that the muse is a lover, but really, it's not as clear-cut as that, and in fact some of the best muses never end up as a lover or romantic relationship at all.

What are muse fans called? ›

Those moments between Muse fans—or “Musers” as they are sometimes called—have also been known to transcend the physical world, with some of them connecting through a series of online message boards that predate social media.

Who is Gucci's muse? ›

In many ways, she looked like the ultimate Gucci muse – and she sort of is. She's Zumi Rosow, the musician, jewellery designer and newly minted Gucci model after whom Michele named the bag.

Who is Balenciaga's muse? ›

GREATEST: ELIZA DOUGLAS. The Balenciaga muse and multimedia artist talks NYC adolescence, media misrepresentation and Demna's prolific creativity.

Who is Celine muse? ›

lisa is celine's muse, the face of prada, bvlgari brand ambassador, the spokesperson for 3 brands in china, brand ambassador of penshoppe and AIS, what else??

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