F is for Nº 5: Chanel Nº 5 Ad Retrospective and Video Before Brad Pitt's Debut

Brad Pitt debuts on October 15th as the first male face of Chanel NÂ°5. Let's look at an advertising retrospective that includes Suzy Parker, Chatherine Deneuve, Ali McGraw, Carole Bouquet, Nicole Kidman, Audrey Tautou, and a Canadian model and ex-Canadian National Champion synchro swimmer.

Author:: Janine
Publish date:: Oct 5, 2012
Updated on: Dec 9, 2014

We're days away from Brad Pitt's Chanel N°5 debut. In the brand's 91-year heritage, Brad is the first male face of N°5; the campaign, shot by director Joe Wright (above right), launches on October 15th. (Wright is the director behind Pride & Prejudice, Hanna and Anna Karenina.) While we wait with bated breath -- we're doing that, right? -- let's enjoy a retrospective of Chanel ads (including two featuring Canadian model/ex synchro-swimmer Estella Warren) and "Inside Chanel," the first official video look at the N°5 history.

1921 Tribute to Chanel N°5 by the cartoonist Sem. ©Lithographie Sem

1937 Chanel N°5 ad published in Harper's Bazaar. This is the first time Coco Chanel appeared in her own promotions for her fragrance. ©Ministere de la Culture - Mediatheque du Patrimoine, Dist. RMN

1957 Suzy Parker, photographed by Richard Avedon. ©Richard Avedon/ Courtesy The Richard Avedon Foundation

1966 Ali MacGraw, photographed by Jerome Ducrot. ©Chanel 1966

1971 Jean Shrimpton, photographed by Helmut Newton. ©Chanel 1971

1972 Catherine Deneuve, photographed by Richard Avedon. US exclusive. Courtesy of The Richard Avedon Foundation. In 1973, the bath powder and spray cologne set was $13.

1975 Catherine Deneuve, photographed by Richard Avedon. US exclusive. Courtesy of The Richard Avedon Foundation

1993_Carole Bouquet_Patrick Demarchelier

1993 Carole Bouquet, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier ©Chanel 1993

1996_Carole Bouquet_Patrick Demarchelier

1996 Carole Bouquet, photographed by Patrick Demarchelier ©Chanel 1996

1997 Carole Bouquet, photographed by Dominique Issermann. ©Chanel 1997

1997 Chanel NÂ°5 silkscreens by Andy Warhol. ©Andy Warhol Foundation

1999 Estella Warren, photographed by Jean-Paul Goude. ©Chanel 1999 (I interviewed Estella about her beauty secrets back in the early days of Beautygeeks.)