Audrey Tautou

When Audrey Tautou brought the spark and sophisticated Parisian style of Coco Chanel to brazen life in the flick Coco Before Chanel, we got hooked on the iconic designer in her earlier years. How to adopt Coco's youthful vitality and style? It's about a smart jacket, a string of pearls, the ubiquitous striped top, and lots of menswear elements: wide trousers, vests, a hat. To make it modern, add casual elements to these more tailored, classic pieces. For example, mix a boucle jacket with a t-shirt, skinny jeans, and brogues. Or try wide-leg trousers with a slouchy silk shirt and tons of bracelets. We've gathered the best elements for a chic, ladylike wardrobe that is just a little smart 'n' sassy. Coco, we hope you would approve.

I have a confession: I have a hair crush on Audrey Tautou. It started with that famous stacked cut she wore while filming 2001's Amelie and has continued since. Whether she has longer hair or is sporting a wavy pixie, Audrey has the retro-chic look down pat. What makes this particular style (which she wore to the Paris premiere of De Vrais Mensonges) different is the way it starts off flat at the base and cascades down into a bevy of bouncy curls. So to find out how to style this retro-meets-modern bob, just keep reading.

I thought I had a good handle on the woman, the legend, Coco Chanel: Gabrielle, a magical seamstress, androgynous, smoker. Little did I know when I sat down to see Coco Before Chanel that I was going to embark on an emotional roller coaster — beautiful, deep, tear-inducing.

Naturally, a big part of the film is the wardrobe, but don't go expecting extravagance. Remember, this is Coco before Chanel, when she would make hats at home and sew her clothes out of her lover's closet. Menswear influences — bow-ties, vests, bowler hats — are major players. Pearls and tweed came much later; perhaps there should be a sequel, Coco After Chanel.

Read my review and see more photos.

>> The English-Speaking Coco Avant Chanel Trailer Is Out —We've seen the French trailer for Coco Avant Chanel, the silent trailer, and now finally there's an English-language trailer.  There's still a few months before the movie hits theaters in limited released Sept. 25, so for now, this will have to suffice. [Elle]

The trailer! »

>> INSIDER WIRE —The Coco Chanel biopic in which Audrey Tautou plays the designer, Coco Avant Chanel, finally has a release date for the US . . . and an "English language" trailer in which there is no dialogue — compare with the French version.  It comes out in limited release on Sept. 25 — just two weeks after The September Issue hits theaters — and so far, seems to be positively received. [Telegraph UK]