Inspiration: Chanel’s Little Black Jacket at Le Grand Palais, Paris

I admit it – I’m a planner. I like to know what I’m doing, where and with whom ages in advance.

But I’m working on this.

Which is why, for my trip to Paris I had only a basic list of things I wanted to see and do – but had left flexibility in my schedule.

And thank heavens! As it turns out, the Karl Lagerfeld & Carine Roitfeld project, The Little Black Jacket was going to be at the Grand Palais during my trip.

I’d flipped through the book and browsed the images online a while ago, but the work is a lot more impressive when you see the photos in a gallery setting. The mood of the room, with very low lighting and large prints of the images makes the experience stronger than the book alone can achieve.

The exhibit in Paris continues until the 25th of November (admission is free) and then recommences its travels and will be in Berlin from November 23-December 14, 2012 and Seoul from December 1-12, 2012.

While there are simply too many amazing portraits to possibly choose a favourite, after much deliberation I’ve been able to narrow down the field to the following candidates:

Former Chanel égérie and actress Laetitia Casta

Former Chanel égérie, model and author Inès de la Fressange – whose style I’ve long loved

Model Linda Evangelista – whose portrait was captured as both a black and white, as well as in a red triptych on glass that was 20 feet+ tall.

Former French Vogue Editor-in-Chief Carine Roitfeld

Musician and designer Kanye West and Designer Haider Ackermann

Actress Jane Birkin (I love that this shot captures a moment in time and has a political subtext – Birkin’s bag reveals an image of Aung San Suu Kyi)

Model Frankie Ryder (I grew up reading about her Seventeen and YM – so I felt very nostalgic for my youth) and Television presenter and fashion muse Alexa Chung

Actress Virginie Ledoyen, whose look seems inspired by her latest role as la duchesse Gabrielle de Polignac in Les Adieux à la Reine.

Model, actress and musician Charlotte Gainsbourg – another of my ultimate Parisienne inspirations

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See what I mean? It’s hard to pick a favourite….but which ones do you like best?