Whenever my friends would come back to the States from studying abroad they would always say, “We’re so far behind in the United States, fashion, music food, we’re at least two years behind with everything!” Sometimes I chose to ignore them. There are reasons why the Spaniards are wearing mullets and the Americans aren’t. However, if you combine fashion, cinema & romance languages all in one I may just endure mullets and acid washed jeans two seasons too early.

 

That’s the case with ’s Coco Before Chanel which will hit the American theaters in limited release on September 25, 2009. It was a hit at Cannes and is playing in such European countries as Belgium,  Italy and the Czech Republic. Can we say European vacation? Coco Before Chanel stars Audrey Tautou of Amelie fame and is directed by Anne Fontaine. It traces the life of the famed designer through her upbringing in a convent school to her time with extravagant men, ranging from ones who helped her career and those who influenced her designs. But, of course, they all do both for all of us, don’t they?

Photo taken by Chantal Thomine-Desmazures, Courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

Ashley Shute spends eight hours a day working as a blue jean and t-shirt wearing community organizer in San Antonio. The other 16 hours are dedicated to dreaming about and shopping for the latest luxury fashions. Her style icon is Jacqueline Kennedy; classic, clean, and always professional. You will never find a fake bag in her closet and she wants a collection of Manolo Blahnik shoes before she turns 30.