Chanel Creative Director Karl Lagerfeld whisks viewers to the heart of a royal 19th century fairytale in his latest fashion and film collaboration, Reincarnation. The short film stars famous faces Cara Delevingne and Pharrell Williams as the Emperor and Empress of Austria—think luxurious ball gowns, extravagant hair and perfectly tailored jackets. Williams, who plays the role of a lift operator to start, is reincarnated as Franz Joseph I, Emperor of Austria. The British model and famed singer also share an on-screen duet to CC the World, an original song written by Williams.
Behind the scenes of Reincarnation
“It was time to show the origins of the Chanel jacket, inspired by the one worn by the lift attendant in a hotel near Salzburg in the 1950s,” says Lagerfeld. “Reincarnation is the story of a lift attendant’s jacket being reincarnated as a timeless piece of women’s wear.”
The film premiered on December 1 in Salzburg to accompany the fashion house’s latest Métiers d’art collection. Below, watch the talented cast go full regal in Reincarnation.
