Nicole Warne

When anyone reaches the personal milestone of their 50th birthday the celebrations naturally feel like a retrospective of their life, surrounded by their loved ones, discussing, laughing and honouring their triumphs as much as their adversities, with the underlying feeling of wisdom and inner peace that can only come with six hundred months of enriching life experiences and the tender touch of time passing. To make it to your fiftieth birthday is one thing, but to make it to your fiftieth anniversary having survived one of the most fickle  industries in the world is an astonishing accomplishment. My partnership with Ralph Lauren began at his 50th anniversary show in New York a few months ago. A true reflection of the fashion veteran who has spent his life building one of the most successful fashion empires in the world.

Shot over four days across seven different locations in my hometown of the Central Coast, this was a dream project working with some of my favourite and long time collaborators to create this new short film for Chanel’s new fragrance collection, Les Eaux De Chanel. What might look like a collection of random scenes, each flashback visually references, in a subtle or completely abstract way, something from the ingredients in the new fragrances to what Gabrielle Chanel drew inspiration from in three cities of great significance to her; Deauville, Biarritz and Venice, which influenced her designs, her career and her life. From her being inspired by her time at the seaside to the men’s clothing she observed at polo matches, we wanted to interpret these inspirations as told through the lens of my wonderful director, Muc Nguyen. Hints of citrus fruits like orange, mandarin and grapefruit, or flowers such as iris and violets were woven into the narrative, with the nostalgic feeling of a summer by the beach you never want to end lingering in the air.

Last December I traveled to Germany for the first time for Chanel’s Metiers d’Art Show. The sky was overcast and grey, the wind was freezing

Following on from my Panthere de Cartier story earlier this year, Cartier and I have continued our partnership to bring you this new editorial for their high jewellery collection, Resonances de Cartier. Luxuriously spread across three floors, the exhibition even had pieces from the brand’s private collection of historic jewels once owned by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor and the Vanderbilts. But what I found the most impressive about this new high jewellery collection was the new direction and focus on fluidity and flexibility, using new 3D technology to transform classic stones to cater for the modern day woman and how she wears her pieces. I wanted the high jewellery to be seen through both a traditional and modern lens – a contrast of two worlds meeting to empower women all over the world to express who they are and feel beautiful in their own skin.