Steidl Benoît Peverelli: CHANEL – Fittings and Backstage

There is something clandestine about Benoît’s work with the mystery of something naturally romantic. That is what makes his work unique, impossible to imitate by any other photographer. - Karl Lagerfeld If you’re ever lucky enough to make it backstage at one of Chanel’s fashion shows, at Paris’ Grand Palais or a different exotic location, you might catch a glimpse of a certain photographer passionately clicking away as he weaves his way past models, celebrities and artistic director Virginie Viard. That photographer is Benoît Peverelli, and this book is an in-depth look at Karl Lagerfeld’s collections for Chanel from 2010 to his last, shown in March 2019, and reveals the remarkable continuation of the story of the house through Viard’s collections. CHANEL – Fittings and Backstage is the long-awaited revised edition of the original sold-out book of 2018. Containing more than 2,000 photos and nearly 20 new collections, the publication comprises four volumes, one for each of Chanel’s collections: Haute Couture, Ready-to-Wear, Cruise, and Métiers d’Art which celebrates the savoir-faire of the numerous ateliers producing embroidery, beading, buttons and more―all by hand. Peverelli depicts the beauty and secrets of the backstage world, but also revealed are the fittings leading up to the show―exclusive meetings between Viard and the Chanel Studio at 31 Rue Cambon, where each model’s garment, accessories, make-up and hair are individually adjusted and perfected late through the night for the next morning’s show.