Chanel Resurrects Marilyn Monroe for New No. 5 Campaign
Chanel is going in a decidedly more dead direction for its upcoming Chanel No. 5 campaign, enlisting none other than Marilyn Monroe as the face of the classic fragrance.
In a press release sent out this afternoon, Chanel describes the late cinema icon as “the most desirable woman of the 20th century,” citing Monroe‘s famous remark from 1952–that she wore nothing to bed but Chanel No. 5–as the incentive for choosing her to front the campaign. The French house recently unearthed a recording from 1960 of Monroe “spontaneously” confirming the quote in an interview with Marie Claire.
“You know, they ask me questions,” she explains in the audio. “Just an example: ‘What do you wear to bed ? A pajama top? The bottoms of the pajamas? A nightgown?’ So I said, ‘Chanel No. 5,’ because it’s the truth… And yet, I don’t want to say ‘nude’. But it’s the truth!”
The print and TV ads are set to roll out this fall. Monroe’s career has been on fire lately; aside from Chanel, she’s appeared in campaigns for Dior and Sexy Hair, collaborated on a MAC capsule collection, and designed a clothing line for Macy’s. Also, she died 51 years ago. No word on whether Monroe will be making appearances to promote her new gig. Heh.
Perhaps Brad Pitt was just a little too, oh, I don’t know… alive?… to sign back on for a second year.
