Poetry In Motion: Tilda Swinton On Capturing Luxury, Couture Coats and Continuing Chanel’s Legacy
The award-winning actor spoke to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia after the Spring/Summer Couture 2023 show
In a room full of statuesque models, dressed-to-the-nines influencers and the world’s fashion press, all eyes are on Tilda Swinton who glides to her front row seat and chats animatedly with South Korean pop sensation G-Dragon while photographers go wild at this unpredictable friendship. The Oscar-winning actress, a long-time Chanel ambassador, spoke to Harper’s Bazaar Arabia after the Spring/Summer Couture 2023 show which featured an imaginative collection centred around whimsical animal motifs embellished onto pieces– one that moved Tilda to rise to her feet in a standing ovation for creative director, Virginie Viard.
You were obviously impressed with the show. What was the highlight for you?
I thought it was exquisite. I loved the jewelled coat dress. The way every piece felt like a new jewel was beautiful. It’s not exactly a trapeze coat, but it occured to me that it fit into the circus theme. I just want to go up and have a look, have a taste… really feel the weight of them.
You’ve been a friend of the maison for so long, how have you seen the brand evolve under Virginie’s eye?
That’s a really interesting question because I was thinking about it this morning. It’s a very elegant transition because Karl was quite an act to follow, to say the least. She knew him very well. And so she has been able to pull her own strand out, as it were. Pulled it out from the work she did with him. And it’s very easy. I feel that this show, for example, had a kind of ease to it, which is very reassuring. I think Virgine’s always heading towards ease. And she has this very momentous task, you know, representing and working with the legacy of Chanel. Yes, Gabrielle Chanel was very interested in ease, but she was also interested in all sorts of other stuff. And so I think pulling that ease forward, is a task. I don’t want to take away the effort, because that makes it sound brittle. But you can see that kind of verve in her to try and make things easy.
Is ease something you feel is important in style in general, then? Should there always be a kernel of it in every look?
Yes, to be relaxed, that’s true luxury.
You’re as synonymous with style as you are with acting now…
It’s the being synonymous with acting that I have an issue with. I’d rather it was performance in general.
Has style always been something very important to you? And has it been part of you climbing the industry ladder?
It depends how you define style. But if I define style as a kind of easy way of enjoying making a kind of shape in the world, in a relaxed spirit, then yeah, absolutely. From the very beginning. Even up a tree.
Interview: Olivia Phillips.
Photo: Courtesy of Chanel.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s May 2023 issue.
