Mademoiselle Privé: Saatchi Gallery review ★★★★★

This October luxury is sweeping through the capital with the Frieze Festival in Regents Park and the unveiling of a new exhibition, Mademoiselle Privé, to celebrate the fashion house Chanel at the Saatchi Gallery.

In an extravagent takeover that only Chanel would, or could, orchestrate, the French fashion house has installed itself across three floors of the innovative contemporary art gallery and offers a truly enchanted and insightful journey throughout the history of Chanel's creativity.

Attendees of the exhibition enter through the Chanel garden, comprised of three parts, designed by Chelsea Flower show winners and created to reflect the different moods of Coco Chanel. It is the first time the entrance to the Saatchi Gallery has been used in this way and the effect is one of total immersion, this before you have entered the gallery itself.

Inside, laquered screens enthrall visitors further with designs taken directly from Coco Chanel's apartment. The first room continues on this theme with a crisp white room complete with a replica staircase. The Mademoiselle Privé app brings the room to life, showing how it would have been when Coco Chanel lived there.

The crowning jewel of the ground floor is unarguably the majestic diamond, magnificently crafted, which spins round in a giant cage. The effect is mesmeric and enchanting, a real emblem of the luxury that lies at the heart of Chanel. Other rooms on the ground floor include one full of totems, which bring to life the codes, symbols and icons created by Gabrielle Chanel and continued by Karl Lagerfeld. An installation dedicated to the iconic Chanel N°5 is also delightful, paying homage to Coco's desire that women should smell of something other than flowers. The final 'sensory' room, sweeps visitors into a material haven and allows ateendees to explore the fabrics used in Chanel clothes.

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On the second floor, the craftsmanship and visionary design of modern day Chanel is thoughtfully realised. Displays include a re-edition of High Jewellery "Bijoux de Diamonds" and a playful film which imagines a conversation between Karl Lagerfeld (played by himself) and Coco Chanel, (played by Geraldine Chaplin).

In all, this is a luxurious and carefully thought out exhibition which offers an intimate insight into history of the brand whilst celebrating the personalities who have continued to drive the imitable and aspirational spirit of the label. This exhibition is not to be missed, especially for those who admire the 'audacity, freedom and innovation' of Chanel's creative aesthetic.

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