Chanel 258

Taken only a few seconds after the previous portrait, this was the real surprise of the photo shoot. Hard to pinpoint why but it has to do with the expression and the general feel of this portrait. Great!

(acknowledgements and valedictory will be added soon)

Chanel 257

Metzler was - or is - a brand that stood for frames aiming at trend followers rather than trendsetters. A representative pair of glasses from the late 1970's shown here by Chanel illustrates this statement. The glasses were featured in two previous photo shoots (Farishta in 2009, Juliette in 2013) and then went into hibernation. They only surfaced when I was going through the entire collection in search for glasses around minus four. Yes, these may suit Chanel. And for sure they did. No surprise....

Chanel 256

Glasses: Metzler, 1970's
[L: -3.50 / R: -4.25]

Chanel 255

It's hard to pick a number one favorite from any photo shoot but in my opinion this would be a very serious candidate. Feel free to differ.

Chanel 254

Specsavers started its activities on a very small scale in 1984 and gradually expanded its activities all over the UK. These Rita glasses were a find in a hospitable charity shop in Wales, around the turn of the Millennium. The strong reading add suggests that their first owner was probably an elderly lady. Her glasses were welcomed by three models who posed in them well before Chanel (Rachel and Gita in 2009, Julia in 2016). Here lovely Chanel joins their ranks in her own inimitable style.

Chanel 253

Glasses: Specsavers (Rita), early 1990's
[L: -4.25 / R: -3.50 / bif add 2.75]

Chanel 252

The nostalgia and even a touch of sadness in the expression of Chanel is what struck me when I saw this portrait.

Chanel 251

Chanel is the fifth model posing in these large, massive glasses. She was preceded by Elena, Gita, Lettie (2009, first weblog) and Nefeli (2016, third weblog),

Chanel 250

Glasses: Gan Aimh, late 1970's / early 1980's
[L=R: -3.50]

Chanel 249

Zooming in on magician Chanel.... Some things just never change. We all have our individual ways of observing.

This fine portrait marks the end of our stay in Gronau but it's not the end of this documentary. My choice was to leave three short but excellent series taken at the graveyard as our note of adieu.

Chanel 248

This is my own favorite from this all too brief series of lovely Chanel in glitter glasses by Silhouette. It has to do with the concentration on her face and also with the tiny image of the background seen through the lens.

Chanel 247

My collection hosts over one hundred Silhouette glasses. The pair shown here by beautiful Chanel is atypical because of the glitter on the frame. I never saw it anywhere in the streets. Perhaps it was an abandoned experiment. Chanel is the first model to pose in these glasses and after seeing the printed photos she declared this portrait one of her favorites.

Chanel 246

Glasses: Silhouette 1059, made in 1980 / 1981
[L: -3.75; c-1.00 o / R: -4.00; c-1.00 h]

Chanel 245

Speaking about Doppelganger glasses, here is another example. The style is Christian Dior except for the straight arms and the missing logo. This pair was acquired in Switzerland. Chanel is the fourth model posing in this Doppelganger pair. The previous models were Clarine (2008), Farishta (2009, first weblog) and Julia (2016, third weblog).

Chanel 244

Glasses: Gan Aimh, late 1970's / early 1980's
[L=R: -4.50; c-0.50 h]

Chanel 243

These are the Viennaline glasses I referred to when posting photos 215 - 217. Chanel was posing there in a Doppelganger of the Viennaline pair shown here. She is the first model to pose in them and the effect is flattering indeed. Excellent posing!

Chanel 242

Glasses: Viennaline, mid 1980's
[L: -4.00 / R: -3.00; c-0.50 o / var add 2.50]

Chanel 241

Glasses: Morel, 1980's
[L: -3.25; c-0.75 h / R: -3.25; c-0.75 o / var add 1.25]

These glasses were acquired in Switzerland, about fifteen years ago. They were only featured in one previous photo shoot, with Nanda in 2009 (first weblog).

Chanel 240

The lenses in these Essel glasses are not photo chromic but simply tinted. It's easy to identify the age of this pair. The flamed brown material is characteristic for the mid 1970's. Again it was a buy at the inexhaustible Waterlooplein flea market in the 1980's. Many models liked these rather mysterious glasses (Elena, Gita, Lettie, Marike, Julia and Nefeli). Like Chanel, they all had a prescription of minus four or close to it.

Chanel 239

Glasses: Essel Boutique, mid 1970's
[L=R: -3.50]

Chanel 238

Essel made a splendid "Boutique" series in the early and mid 1970's. The design of this "Natac" pair is unique. None of the other frames in my vast collection looks even remotely similar. I bought it for coppers and brass at the Waterlooplein flea market in my native Amsterdam, over thirty years ago. Chanel is the sixth model posing in this gem. She was preceded by Astrid, Tineke (first weblog), Karen (second weblog), Battice and Julia (third weblog).

Chanel 237

Glasses: Essel Boutique (Natac), early 1970's
[L: -2.50; c-0.75 v / R: -4.75]

The model's right eye is leading in this portrait.

Chanel 236

An immense difference with the previous portrait. Much of the asymmetry is hidden by the vantage point. Chanel declared this photo one of her favorites and she was absolutely right.

These glasses were acquired in Switzerland Only three models posed in them earlier on, nine years before Chanel. The models in question were Clarine, Conny and Farishta.

Chanel 235

Glasses: Christian Dior 2297, mid 1980's
[L: -4.00 / R: -6.50; c-2.50 h]

There is a striking asymmetry in this portrait. Mono view for Chanel but at least she saw everything perfect with her left eye. Note the massive "cut in" effect of the lens for the right eye.
 

Chanel 234

The lenses in these early Silhouette glasses gave Chanel good eyesight. Her posing is second to none. This is one of my favorite portraits from this photo shoot. Big compliment to lovely Chanel!

Chanel 233

For this second photo shoot with Chanel I brought along a small box containing eight glasses with photo chromatic lenses. To my surprise, none of these glasses were changing into sunglasses as fast as they usually do. The only explanation is that the Extrablatt terrace has excellent parasols that filter out the sunlight better than elsewhere.

Chanel 232

This is one of the earliest Silhouette glasses in my collection. Fantastic design. The lenses are photo chromatic which was a new invention at the time.

Chanel 231

Glasses: Silhouette 35, made around 1970
[L: -3.75; c-0.50 v / R: -4.00]

Chanel 230

Glasses: Gan Aimh, late 1980's
[L=R: -4.00]

These glasses were a find in a charity shop in Co. Mayo, Ireland about fifteen years ago. Chanel is the first model posing in them. The lenses are exactly her prescription but unfortunately rather hazy. The same goes for the light conditions on the terrace.

Chanel 229

These glasses were a welcome find in a Welsh charity shop around the turn of the Millennium. Again a pair that adds a soft touch to a lady's face. Chanel is the fourth model posing in these glasses. She was preceded by Gita, Margriet and Tineke who all posed for me in 2009 (first weblog). Excellent posing by lovely Chanel. Hat off!

Chanel 228

Glasses: Coppella, late 1980's / early 1990's
[L: -2.00; c-0.75 v / R: -3.25; c-0.75 v / var add 2.00]

Chanel 227

Another Waterlooplein discovery made over thirty years ago. A nice, rather airy frame. Chanel is only the second model posing in these glasses. The first model was Elena in 2009.

Chanel 226

Glasses: Gan Aimh, 1970's
[L: -2.75; c-0.50 o]

Chanel 225

There is a nostalgia element in the posing by Chanel. Quite appropriate for a pair of glasses made over forty years ago. It's all a matter of taste but I like this portrait very much.

Chanel 224

These Viennaline glasses were a buy at the Waterlooplein flea market, about thirty years ago. They were only featured in two previous photo shoots (Clarine 079, Farishta 235).

Chanel 223

Glasses: Viennaline, 1970's
[L: -4.00 / R: -5.00]

Chanel 222

The Atrio glasses give a soft and refined look indeed.

Chanel 221

These Atrio glasses were featured in four previous photo shoots, with Clarine (2008), Tineke (2009), Daisy (2012) and Julia (2015).

Chanel 220

Reading the menu through varifocal lenses takes a bit of concentration if one is not used to them.

Chanel 219

Glasses: Atrio, mid / late 1980's
[L: -2.50 / R: -2.75 / var add 2.25]

Chanel 218

The lenses are too weak but the distance between Chanel and her avid photographer was only five feet. No problem with a bad blur.

Chanel 217

These glasses were acquired in Tirol, Austria and featured in two early photo shoots with Gita and Tineke (2009, first weblog). Given Chanel's preference for refined frames I dug these glasses up and they look absolutely fabulous on her.

Chanel 216

Chanel showing the elegant arms of the glasses. There is no brand name on the frame. It looks like the twin sister of Viennaline glasses that will be shown later.

Chanel 215

Glasses: Gan Aimh, mid 1980's
[L: -2.50; c-1.00 v / R: -2.25]

Chanel 214

"Yes, I'll have a coke. And another pair of glasses if there are any left".

"Sure. My pleasure".

Chanel 213

"Ah, I see you made your choice, is that right?"

Chanel 212

A real gentleman always gives a lady plenty of time to make her choice from the menu....

Chanel 211

Chanel is quietly reading the menu and this gives me the opportunity to tell a bit more about our new location. I have been a regular visitor of this large and hospitable terrace for two decades. Extrablatt is one of the real focal points in Gronau. People from three generations get together for food and drinks. Giant parasols provide shelter against the rain and in our case, against the merciless sunlight.

Chanel 210

These refined bifocals were kindly presented to me by an amateur model called Esther. Her parents live just across the square and they also supplied me with old glasses from charity shops and fairs. Esther did a wonderful photo shoot for me six years ago and of course she was the first to pose in the Zeiss bifocals. Soon afterwards another amateur model called Margriet posed in them as well. The glasses only surfaced again during the preparations for the first photo shoot with Chanel. Unlike Esther, the glasses gave Chanel perfect eyesight in her left eye and almost perfect eyesight in her right eye. Studying the menu through the reading segments was not acting but a real life situation. 

Chanel 209

Glasses: Zeiss, mid 1980's
[L: -4.00 / R: -4.00; c-0.50 h / bif add 2.50]