Audrey Tautou stars as the legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel in the Anne Fontaine directed film, Coco Avant Chanel; an excellent biopic that explores the orphan’s storied ascension to fashion stardom.

This is a story of Gabrielle ‘Coco” Chanel who begins her life as a headstrong orphan and through an extraordinary journey becomes the legendary couturier who embodied the modern women and became a timeless symbol of success, freedom and style.

A single actor’s screen presence can go a long way to redeeming an average film. Audrey Tautou’s star turn as the legendary fashion designer proves the point eloquently. Her Coco is a boyish wisp of a creature, looking great in mannish clothes that contrast shockingly with the big flowery hats and corseted finery of her age. The film features dresses from the Chanel collection, of course and The House of Chanel art director Karl Lagerfeld also steps on board to supervise the creation of marvellous accessories and costumes. I am obsessed with everything ‘Coco’ wore in the film. Effortless style and minimalism at its finest.