Precious Meaning: Why Chanel’s Glittering Camellias Make The Most Thoughtful Gift
The best things come in small packages at this time of year, and Chanel’s Camélia collection makes the perfect gift – embodying grace, purity and peace
There are brand logos, and then there are brand logos that transcend decades, cultures and continents. Chanel’s signature camellia is one of the latter, and aside from the French maison’s iconic interlocking C motif, there are few other emblems in the creative world that are as instantly recognisable or as synonymous with the uppermost echelon of luxury fashion.
The maison’s founder, Coco Chanel, famously fell in love with camellias in 1913, when she pinned one of the glossy white blooms to her belt. In 1923, the camellia made its first foray into Chanel’s Ready-to-wear collections, and the designer adorned dresses and jackets with the motif. The camellia quickly became shorthand for Coco’s genius, and the emblem crept into her personal life as well as her fashion collections – if you visit the designer’s legendary apartment on Rue Cambon, Paris, which remains virtually untouched since she passed away in 1971, you will discover elegant Chinese screens that separate the living space still today, each adorned with intricate in-lay camellia flowers. There is also speculation around whether the camellia also bore romantic meaning for Coco, as it is said to have been the favourite bloom of her lover, Boy Capel, and that she wore the camellia for many years after his death to remember him.
Romance aside, it’s easy to see why Coco fell for the camellia’s charms – its pure white petals and simple silhouette embody the design codes she was championing in the era; elegant, refined lines with effortless femininity. The camellia has remained, however, a constant motif of Chanel since its founder passed on the baton – Karl Lagerfeld often relied upon the camellia to add final flourishes to his read-to-wear collections, often playing with colour and scale, and Virginie Viard has continued to champion the symbol, which now even appears upon buttons and zippers – a miniature reference to the maison’s founder and heritage. The camellia also often appears within the maison’s perfume and beauty repertoire, but its most precious incarnation is undeniable – the Camélia de Chanel fine jewellery collection.
Perfectly formed and set with the finest white diamonds, the Camélia collection features delicate camellia blooms upon rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets. From minimalist interpretations such as the Extrait de Camélia designs, which feature sleek, precious gold petals, to more ornate styles such as Bouton de Camélia diamond-set pieces, each design reflects the soft, round flower bud and its sensual curves with realistic charm. A little known fact about the camellia? It can even bloom in winter – bringing hope, beauty and gratitude in even the most challenging times.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s December 2024 Issue