Chanel’s had us in suspense since February after announcing that Marion Cotillard was going to become the next face of its iconic N°5 fragrance. Magazine covers for Vogue Paris, British Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE France featuring the French actress sporting Chanel have kept us occupied, but now the wait is finally over. Catherine Deneuve, Nicole Kidman and Gisele Bündchen have all been featured in the scent’s campaigns throughout its rich 99-year-old history and now Marion joins the club starring in the latest ad captured by Steven Meisel. For the print campaign image (below), Marion is a vision wearing a gold embroidered gown (reinterpreted by Virginie Viard from an original Gabrielle Chanel design). In the magical commercial directed by Johan Renck (after the jump), she dances on the moon alongside Jérémie Belingard.
The campaign got a lot of attention on our forums. “I mean she looks beautiful, but it’s not a very exciting picture. It looks flat. Too flat for Meisel,” critiqued mikel.
“I see no Meisel magic in the photos,” complained MDNA.
“I don’t like it. Chanel in my imagination should be more classic, timeless and almost minimalist. This, in contrary, looks like a Zuhair Murad ad or a holiday version of the main campaign,” called out an underwhelmed Royal-Galliano.
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Benn98 also wasn’t exactly jumping for joy: “I like the set design and rich colors for Christmas, but it’s a bit too J’adore for me.”
“I cannot believe Meisel shot this. It screams Mario Testino for me even Annie Leibovitz, but not Meisel. It is cute, but I expected a little more,” voiced WAVES.
But not everyone shared the same sentiment. “It’s very timeless and classic in a very 90s way. I kind of like it. It’s rich, classic, slightly old-fashioned and conservative, but not uptight. Marion here looks more herself than she has ever looked for Christian Dior,” admired Lola701.
“The print campaign image is flawless and I admire Virginie Viard’s reinterpretation of the dress Gabrielle Chanel wore in the Cecil Beaton photograph from 1937, which is such a special touch,” raved vogue28.
See more from the campaign and join the conversation here.
