Keira Knightley v. Marion Cotillard at the Opera de Paris: who wore the better Chanel?

Photocall of the Opening Gala of the Opéra de Paris in Paris

In Paris last night, celebrities and fashionistas gathered for the opening season of the Opera de Paris. I’m sure if I was more current on French celebrities, I would have recognized more of the people. As it is, Keira Knightley was the biggest name celebrity that I saw, along with Marion Cotillard. Keira walked the carpet solo for a bit, and she also posed with her husband, who seemed startled to find himself at the Opera de Paris. I love James Righton though – they seem like such a good fit together, and he seems to support her completely.

Keira and Marion both wore Chanel, obviously. They’re both ride-or-die Chanel girls. Keira’s Chanel was a good example of why I’m completely over the label, and why Karl Lagerfeld has kind of driven it into the ground (not really – Chanel is still a massively popular and lucrative label). I think the general structure would be okay, and I like the materials – the sparkly, beaded stuff on the top and the bottom, and the good-quality silk. But the “quilted” effect on the skirt is killing me. Lagerfeld’s taste is just so fussy these days. The best part about this look? The belt! I love the belt.

Photocall of the Opening Gala of the Opéra de Paris in Paris

As for Marion’s Chanel… it looks like the kind of dress they would give her because they knew that no actress would want it for the awards season.

Photocall of the Opening Gala of the Opéra de Paris in Paris

Photos courtesy of Backgrid.

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36 Responses to “Keira Knightley v. Marion Cotillard at the Opera de Paris: who wore the better Chanel?”

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  1. Ib says:

    Hideous dresses, both

  2. Susannah says:

    Do we have to choose?

  3. Meghan says:

    I like the black part of Marion’s dress. Like it would be a cute top with leggings and boots.

    • Sigh... says:

      It’s wierd. Marion’s look is 2 potentially cute dresses that look ridic together.

      I agree with leggings (or cigarette pants) and the same shiny boots under that black “dress,” OR just the ivory shell (with a shorter or closer hem) with the same boots (& bold, dark accessories).

  4. MaryContrary says:

    Wow-those are both awful. If those are the best Chanel has to offer, I wonder how horrible the rest of them must be.

  5. OriginalRose says:

    Ewe to both. Kieras husband is a bit of alright tho, I like his chest hair ;oD

  6. Goldengirlslover34 says:

    Every time I see a headline that mentions Chanel, I expect some monstrosity. It is always just a “yuck!” I don’t know why people are wearing these clothes! I’m sure some fashionista will tell me “oh you don’t understand! It’s Chanel.” This is absurd! Kiera looks like a fancy roll of quilted charmin toilet paper! What is going on here!

  7. Mabs A'Mabbin says:

    Omg, I’m actually in love with Marion’s dress…and those boots!

  8. Parigo says:

    Marion but only because Keira’s is god awful. It looks like it was handmade by an untalented first year fashion student.

  9. Livvers says:

    I like how the silhouette of Keira’s dress hearkens back to turn-of-the-twentieth century styles, it is thematically consistent with the movie she is currently promoting. I actually like the shirred/gathered effect, especially for a fall promotional tour, but would have liked it much better if the dress was done in a light velvet instead of satin. But yeah, in general, am loving the return to expensive fabrics on dresses this year. Even SJP’s taffeta in an earlier post was clearly a quality textile.

    • Nan says:

      Thank you!
      I looked at it and liked it, just wished it were less shiny. But couldn’t articulate WHY I liked it.

    • chinoiserie says:

      I think it has maybe a tad too much going on or it would benefit going all in with the theme of early century and have sleeves. And Keira often have these really flat hairstyle for some reason and I think a better hair would balance the look.

    • Tiffany :) says:

      I do like the idea of a monotone look, but with different textures layered over each other. But the quilted portion looks to thick and heavy.

  10. ZGB says:

    I like the belt and make up on Knightley. I also love the colour and the material separately. Together, their…eh

    As for Marion, the top part of the dress and those killer boots are fine. It’s the bottom that gives it some weird slouchy effect.

  11. Yeahright says:

    Neither of them can dress. They’re literally the English and French version of bad dressing. They have to try to dress terribly because both of them are so beautiful that it only takes a bad dress to make them look meh.

  12. lucy2 says:

    2 Lovely women in 2 bad dresses.

  13. Marianne says:

    Out of the 2, I like Keira’s more. But why did they have to make the bottom half look like they wrapped a comforter around her.

  14. SM says:

    Keira’s dress looked like a trainwreck and then I scrolled down to Marion’s look….

  15. Pandy says:

    Oddly, I like both dresses. They’re not cookie cutter, so that’s nice. Marion’s silhouette is great.

  16. meh says:

    Keira’s dress looks like a room at an “upscale” bed and breakfast.

  17. raincoaster says:

    I don’t know what’s wrong with Lagerfeld lately. It’s like he’s given up. He has loads of talent, but just isn’t using it anymore. Look at the Dior show: now THAT was beautiful. She’s playing with silhouette too, but in an innovative and actually attractive way, not just because she’s bored.

  18. Kimma1216 says:

    They’re both dressed like lampshades? Was there a theme..

  19. Mystified says:

    Marion’s dress is driving me crazy: the proportions are slightly off in a jarring way. The black part needs to be either 3 inches shorter or longer. Marion is beautiful. From certain angles she looks like Asia Argento. Is Knightley’s nose getting smaller?

  20. Katebush says:

    That first dress is truly hideous

  21. Alice says:

    The inverted triangle on her is just like Meghan Markle’s black dress shown this week. But wasn’t Meghan’s Givenchy? Why so similar? What’s up with these designers? No so original.

  22. Flying fish says:

    Both are hideous.
    Chanel needs a new designer.

  23. OldBeeyutch says:

    Misogynist designs. Seriously, these dresses do not compliment the female form.

  24. Chanteloup says:

    Whereas, I love both dresses! So interesting, i want to keep looking at them.
    I could wear the hell out of that first dress. I only wish the quilted part was a little sleeker at the bottom, i.e. stuck out less from the contrasting fabric below. But it is fabulous and she looks gorgeous in that color!
    I couldn’t wear the second dress, it is too lumpy in the middle section – but Marion kills it! Especially with those boots.
    It’s ok – no one agrees with me!