Charlotte Gainsbourg; image courtesy of loudersoft.com

A little while ago, my friend Alex forwarded me a press release from a rep at Atlantic Records for Charlotte Gainsbourg’s new album IRM. As a fan, he had wondered if I had considered writing about her, an interest apparently motivated by reading an earlier post I did on Scarlett Johansson. When we saw each other at a mutual friend’s dissertation proposal party, we talked a bit more about it, wherein he basically outlined an entry’s worth of critical inquiry.

1. Like Johansson, Gainsbourg works almost exclusively with men, whether they be film directors like Michel Gondry and Todd Haynes or music producers like Nigel Godrich. Thus, she often occupies something of a muse position for male creative types, perhaps further enforcing masculinist notions of auteurism. Gainsbourg’s previous work with Air and Jarvis Cocker from Pulp and her recent collaborations with Beck on her new album further illustrate the point.

Beck and Gainsbourg at work; image courtesy of pitchforkmedia.com

1A. Gainsbourg has occupied this role for some time, as her father is beloved French yé-yé chanteur Serge Gainsbourg, with whom she sang the controversial “Lemon Incest” in 1984 when she was about 13.

1B. Before casting Charlotte as an artistic man’s (or father’s) plaything, I’d point out that her mother British actress-model-artist Jane Birkin, who was pretty liberated in her views on gender, sexuality, and monogamy. However, she may also be cast in something of a muse position. Like her daughter, she’s also worked with Serge and Beck. And like her daughter, who will be representing bestie Nicolas Ghesquière as the spokeswoman for Balenciaga’s new fragrance next February, Birkin inspired numerous fashion trends and clothiers (why yes, she is the namesake for the famous and expensive over-sized Hermès tote.)

Gainsbourg with husband Yvan Ittal, wearing Balenciaga to the Metropolitan Costume Ball; image courtesy of style.com

Unlike her daughter, Birkin also had a predilection for posing nude on camera, sometimes while in the act of coitus, perhaps with multiple partners. I’ll leave you to Google. I’ll also leave you to speculate if her daughter is relatively modest about her sexuality as a result of having such . . . “open” parents.

2. Thinking about our friend Annie’s post on Rachel McAdams, Gainsbourg is something of a thinking man’s pin-up, a cultural figure already saddled with normative ideals around race, class, gender, and sexuality. Given that she was recently featured with her half-sister Lou Doillon as the archtype for ”thin” in Vogue’s size issue, I’d add body type to the list of norms she represents. 

3. Gainsbourg doesn’t sing so much as talk in her songs. She intimates her way through songs in a breathy, sensual monotone, perhaps made more exotic by her British lilt or her occasional dalliances with French.

So, I’ll bring myself into the discussion. I like Gainsbourg but am probably too casual about her work be considered a fan. I’ve listened to 5:55 and IRM a bit, and have seen some of her more recent movies, in which she is often my favorite aspect. While I haven’t seen Antichrist (or any other Lars Von Trier movies) and am nervous about just how wanting it seems to be of a psychoanalytic or auteurist read, her turn as a mother rendered destructive by the death of her son has peaked my curiosity.

That poster is so NSFW; image courtesy of iwatchstuff.com

In addition, I thought her emotionally mature performance as Clair, Robbie Clark’s long-suffering ex-wife in I’m Not There deserved an Oscar nomination. I also liked her cover of “Just Like a Woman.”

I also liked her quiet, discreet turn as Stéphanie, the protagonist’s disinterested object of affection in Science of Sleep, a movie I otherwise hated. This is perhaps in part because the majority of filmgoers at the screening I attended found Gael García Bernal’s Stéphane to be charming, whereas I found him infuriatingly petulant and wanted to smack him with his own disasterology calendar. But I quite liked her. The only parts of her performance that felt disingenuous were when she wears an uncharacteristically skimpy sweater dress to Stéphane’s calendar launch party (which I’m pretty sure was a figment of the protagonist’s puerile imagination) and at the end, when she’s cries about how Stéphane won’t leave her alone. He’s not worth your tears, girl.

Oh, and I enjoy her vocal cameo in Madonna’s “What It Feels Like For a Girl.” Her confrontational monologue about male gender-bending comes from The Cement Garden, a 1993 film adaptation of Ian McEwen’s 1978 novel that was directed by her uncle Andrew Birkin.  

But let’s go back to her voice and problematize the idea of whether or not it’s okay for Gainsbourg to talk through her songs. Pitchfork’s Marc Hogan was really critical of 5:55 particularly for this reason, arguing that her vocal style suggests that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I’d counter with two things.

For one, is making such a display of singing really necessary? Phrasing and expressiveness are just as important as vocal range for singers, if not more so to those with more limitations. And isn’t talking through songs how Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, and Patti Smith developed mythic rock poet status? 

Bob Dylan and Patti Smith; image courtesy of brooklynvegan.com

For another, um, you could easily make the same argument for any of Gainsbourg’s male collaborators’ work. Something tells me that Jarvis Cocker, Beck, and Nicolas Godin and Jean-Benoît Dunckel of Air were probably all influenced by her father’s barely-sung approach to documenting his own erotic misadventures. I only hope they were just as interested working with Charlotte Gainsbourg as they were working with Serge Gainsbourg’s daughter.

That said, it might be easy to overemphasize or project notions of what French sensuality might be onto Gainsbourg and her songs (something her character in I’m Not There bristles at during her first date with her future ex-husband, as well as something Air have gotten a lot of critical mileage on from certain online publications with hipster cache until recently). While her second album was adorned with breathy vocals, acoustic instrumentation, and sumptuous production that may have lent itself well to such an essentialist reading, the lyrics to songs like “The Operation” and “Little Monsters” document both the wonder and terror of bodies and childhood, suggesting what might have drawn Von Trier to cast her in Antichrist. Her new album, which was inspired by working on her latest movie, gives way to more lyrical abstraction, while at the same time emphasizing a harder sound.

In short, Gainsbourg may make male-appointed bedroom music. But that isn’t all that’s going on, if you give a closer listen.

Lou Doillon by Max Vadukul for Vogue Italia, August 2009

“Crescendo ho ocupato l’unico spazio rimasto libero in famiglia; quello dell’eccentrica, del giullare che strappa un sorriso. c’era talmente tanta perfezione che solo comportandomi in modo diverso sono ruiscita a trovare me stessa.”

Photograph via The Following Aesthetic Reasons

If you are not lucky enough to speak Italian (I am mainly not, either, no worries!), then here is a very rough translation pieced together via babelfish (don’t you love that it’s named for a Douglas Adams invention), Conversational Italian in college — which I spent most of my time ditching to fuma (smoke) and hang out with various uomi (men!), in my defense, I was being hella Italian — and a couple online dictionaries:

Image via thebeautymanifesto

“Growing up, I occupied the only space which remained free in my family: that of the eccentric, that of the jester who snags a smile. There was so much perfection that being involved in various ways has helped me to find the same [in life].”

“Lou Doillon Intime,” Playboy France, March 2008

A bit of background. Her father is director Jacques Doillon, and her mother is international superstar, ye-ye idol, and reknowned vintage beauty (a personal patron saint) Jane Birkin. Oh, and Jane’s previous husband was probably the most famous and successful male French musician of all time, (a personal devil) Serge Gainsbourg.

Beautiful, marvelous, multi-talented Jane Birkin during her marriage to That Creepy Soul-Reaper (Gainsbourg).

Birkin’s relationship with Lou’s father, film director Jacques Doillon, ended her marriage to Gainsbourg, and because of that the French press have a love-hate relationship with Lou: on the one hand, she is a daughter of cultural aristocracy; on the other, her very existence symbolises the end of one of France’s great love affairs.

Lou’s various step and half-sisters are famously beautiful models, actresses, and musicians such as Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kate Barry, and Lily Doillon.

“Destiny’s Daughter: Lou Doillon et Jane Birkin,” Getty Images

After a deliberately outre ugly duckling phase and some raw turns in cool indie flicks, Lou has been slowly transitioning in to a model citizen herself. So … yes, I can see where she is coming from with that quote. She’s a really cool chick, and as you can see from this small smattering from my collection of pics, she has taken it off, so she gets to be billed as lovely and talented, to boot!

Lou Doillon by Max Vadukul for Vogue Italia, August 2009

I’ll get to more about her another day, I guarantee, because I think she is a smashing girl! but right now I need to go put on my Square Face (read: look freshly-made-up, decently-dressed, and reliable and maternal) for my kidlet’s first parent-teacher conference. I don’t want my appearance or attitude or nuttiness or any grain of reality about myself to seep through to her teacher and influence said teacher’s attitude toward her. I know that’s crazy, but it’s a fear. Wish me luck!

Photographed by Takis Bibelas

Sisters Charlotte Gainsbourg and Lou Doillon: icons, muses, designers, musicians, artists… and oh yeah, mothers.

Credit: April 2009 American Vogue

wow i haven’t been on here in so long. i definitely missed it! anyways…

I have recently rediscovered lou doillon and I am so glad i have! she has fucking fantastic style.

i LOVE her jacket in the last picture. her style kind of reminds me a little bit of erin wassons’. that “i don’t really care” attitude that just manages to come off so chic and so cool. i can’t wait to go shopping next week. winter clothing! over the knee boots, lace tights, dresses and skirts, and faux leather jacket!

peace xo

source: tfs

]]> http://thethinkingtank.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/lou/ Fri, 20 Nov 2009 03:08:56 +0000 pia http://thethinkingtank.wordpress.com/2009/11/19/lou/

lou doillon via the fashion spot

แอบเห็นโพสนี้ที่ Pan’s holiday ทำไว้ใน www.shimusholiday.com ค่ะขอแอบโขมยมาให้สาวๆ BJ ดูกันซะหน่อย 5555 Juliette Has a Gun เป็นน้ำหอมแบรนด์ใหม่ของ  Romano Ricci หลานชายสุดหล่อของ Nina Ricci (อยากรู้ว่าหล่อแค่ไหนเข้าไปดูได้ที่นี่เลยค่ะ Juliette Has a Gun) โดยคอนเซปของน้ำหอมนี้คือ จะเป็นยังไงนะถ้า Juliette has a gun?? หญิงสาวคนนั้นจะเป็นแบบไหนกัน แค่ฟังก็ตื่นเต้นแล้วค่ะ แค่นั้นยังไม่พอ Muse ของน้ำหอมนี้คือ Lou Doillon ไอดอลของนิกิเอง!!! ชอบ Lou มากๆๆๆๆๆๆ  รู้สึกว่าเธอเป็นผู้หญิงที่เท่ มีเสนห์ ลึกลับ อันตราย และsexy ตามแบบ concept ของน้ำหอมนี้จริงๆ

Thanks นะจ๊ะ Pan’s holiday ว่างๆเพื่อนๆก็อย่าลืมแวะเข้าไปดูบล๊อก shimusholiday.com นะคะบล๊อกนี้เค้าน่ารักจริงๆค่ะ555555

xxx,

Niki’s holiday

beautiful lou doillon with the beautiful song from linda perhacs. a vanessa bruno video.

So I’m obsessed with the High-End Bag Lady look… And I realized that all the bag lady looks I love are from The Sartorialist! So, I’m willing to bet Scott Schuman appreciates the look too. I miss my bag lady look, I’m goin BACK!

The most important thing about the bag lady look is the details… I feel like her look is rooted in Americana. Her pieces are while quirky in color and what they’re paired with, are classic in shape. My look will still mostly be black. Because I don’t have all the money in the world yet to coordinate all these things together. But anyways. Well unless I stumble upon a great pair of brown boots… The coat is important, the ethnic/collected jewelry paired with like EMERALDS… Eclectic, bag lady and she’s comfy.

Anna Piaggi

Michela Gattermayer

Anna Dello Russo

Lou Doillon

Catherine Baba

* Lou Doillon by Nan Goldin @ The New York Times (circa) March 08 *

        Me encontré esto, ahora mismo y de casualidad, rebuscando en mi carpeta de cosassúpermolonas y Blue Monday fue lo que me vino directamente a la cabeza. Sí, ya sé que aún es domingo por la noche pero es que detesto tanto los lunes que, en un desaforado e incomprensible impulso autodestructivo, tiendo a anticiparlos.

+++++

        Just found this totally by chance diving into my supercoolstuff folder and Blue Monday is what came instantly to my mind. Yes, I know it still is Sunday night but I hate Mondays so much that, due to a wild and incomprehensible self-destructive behaviour, I tend to bring them forward.

Complex Geometries ScreenShot; My absolute favorite.

It seems that film is definitely becoming a more acceptable medium for many designers to share their visions with the masses. From Alexander McQueen teaming up with ShowStudio for a theatrical live show, to Diane Pernet’s A Shaded View on Fashion Film festival, la cinema is here to stay. But for those itching to know where the fashion film tide is headed check out the Business of Fashion’s top 10 picks for films in 2009.

1. Alexander McQueen 2. Guy Bourdin 3. Gareth Pugh 4. Richard Nicoll 5. Vanessa Bruno 6. David David (David Saunders) 7. A Shaded View on Fashion Film trailer 8. Complex Geometries 9. Tim Hamilton 10. E. Tautz

Check out a few of my fave’s below.

PERPETUAL LEISURE from JASON LAST on Vimeo.

루드와이옹.이여자 좋아한지도 엄청 오래된거같다
한결같이 마르고 한결같이 입이튀어나와있어 좋다. 십년후에도 그럴거같다.

Lou Doillon and Vanessa Bruno’s film collaboration to promote Vanessa Bruno Autumn/Winter 2009-10, described by Bruno as a “visual poem dedicated to her loyal fans”.

Shorts like this remind me of how much i miss being a part of the film process.

Watch out for the detail of Doillon’s grown out undercut at 3 mins and the smiles at 4 mins – very cute.

This dress is popping up everywhere!!

From top left: Lou Doillon at the 2009 Met Gala; Nina Ricci dress on the Fall 09 runway; Jennifer Lopez in the September issue of InStyle Magazine; Tim Walker/Tim Burton’s latest spread in the October issue of Harper’s Bazaar

This the latest video for Givenchy by Ricardo Tisci, which stars famous French actress and muse Lou Doillon. The artistic black and white piece features direction from extremely well known photographer Karim Sadli, Let me know what you guys think of this clip?

]]> http://donjipezliens.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/lou-doillon-nue-givenchy/ Wed, 16 Sep 2009 22:52:25 +0000 donjipez http://donjipezliens.wordpress.com/2009/09/17/lou-doillon-nue-givenchy/

+ que voir Lou Doillon nue , j’aime beaucoup ce nouveau film pour Givenchy qui s’appuie sur une très belle esthétique…

Le noir & blanc est bien choisi, le texte est beau…

Le format long du film permet d’installer une atmosphère et raconter une histoire…

Realisation Karim Sadli

le texte est issue de la chanson “Vénus ” écrite par Gerard Manset et Alain Bashung

you dont need lou doillon’s fashion pedigree to be as chic as her.

read all about it here.

Lou Doillon has been one of my style icons for years now.

As the daughter of French director Jacques Doillon and the beautiful English actress/singer/style icon Jane Birkin (who carried Lou around as a baby in the Hermes Birkin bag…designed just for Jane)  it is not surprising that at a very young age Lou had her own sense of style and fashion.

Lou is an aspiring actress, but like many stylish actresses, her career has gone beyond just that. She has graced the covers of magazines such as Jalouse and French Playboy, been the face for campaigns such as Vanessa Bruno, Burberry, and Givenchy, as well as designing a line of clothing for Lee Cooper.

What I love about her is that her look is far from ordinary and she is certainly not your typical “beauty”; she has a horsey, toothy appearance and while this normally would make someone unattractive I find her to be absolute ly stunning. She has a relaxed edge to her, you can tell that she doesn’t care what people think. She marches to the beat of her own drum, never crippled by what everyone else around her is doing.

Lou says that her biggest fashion inspiration is the Artful Dodger from Oliver Twist and I think that is very apparent not only in her way of dressing, but also in her first collection for Lee Cooper.  With highwaisted jeans and shorts, to cropped jackets and vests, there is a real sense of tomboy meets bohemian fashionista. However, even in her following collections, she was able to maintain this theme and continue to create clothing that was simple and unique.

Lou Doillon for Lee Cooper Jeans

Lou Doillon for Lee Cooper Jeans

the artful dodger

While IMDB doesn’t list any up and coming films or tv series for Lou, I think we can expect to see a lot more from her. With excellence in modeling, to designing, to acting, there’s no way that Lou is going any direction other than up.

on the cover of French Playboy

at the met gala 2009

on the cover of Jalouse

source: tfs
 

Jamie Del Moon and Lou Doillon at the Bowery Hotel, New York. Photo Olivier Zahm

Haunted Since. Lou Doillon at home. Photo Edouard Plongeon

purple-diary.com//DossierJournal