It’s the latest celebrity endorsement that’s got the fashion world divided.

Yet I personally think Karl Lagerfeld got it just right when he made

Lily Allen the face of the new Chanel Cocoon accessories line.

Love her or hate her – you can’t deny she’s feisty, controversial and has unique style.

Much like Coco Chanel herself who I’m sure would rather have shared

a cigarette and a gossip with Lily rather than Kiera Knightley

or Nicole Kidman.

Both very beautiful ‘faces’ of Chanel but without an ounce

of the attitude and head-lining grabbing sartorial clout of Miss Allen.

As Lagerfeld said when Lily took centre stage at the designer’s spring/summer

2010 catwalk show at Paris Fashion Week this month:

“I love Lily Allen. She looks a lot like Gabrielle Chanel and she is a self-made woman.

She is cool, young and extremely witty,”

PS.  If you’re not already Twittering, when you start make Karl your first friend.

His pompous pontifications on life and fashion are priceless.

Karl_Lagerfeld on Twitter. Followers: 127,765. Following: 0.  

And you should totally check out (on a regular basis) the news section of the

official Chanel website for reportage and backstage pictures.

If you were to play the Word Association game and someone said “Chanel”

- the words ‘No 5, boucle jacket, quilt bag and pearls’ would surely follow.

The most iconic images of ‘Madame’ (as Lagerfeld refers to her still) feature layers

and layers of luminous pearls.

Part of the universal appeal of the Chanel look (and why it is copied over and over again by designers)

is that twenty-some-things like Ashlee Simpson and style-leaders in their fourties like Sarah Jessica Parker

can take elements of the Chanel and make it their own. That’s the beauty of well-executed accessorizing.

And it doesn’t have to cost the earth. You can channel Chanel (not exactly on the cheap)

but without re-mortgaging your home.

Browse our full collection of Adele Marie costume jewellery including Chanel-inspired

pearl necklaces and bracelets. Whether you go for one statement multi-strand necklace

or opt for the full-on look with ribbons and corsages and cuffs – there’s tons

to choose from and you’ll be seriously amazed at the prices.

The short white boucle jacket is a Chanel classic and a designer alternative should

be a wardrobe must-have for every girl. The one below is couture. Translation: unaffordable.

But don’t despair.

At Jules B we’ve found the perfect substitute from Tibi, the luxury US brand renowned

for 5th Avenue chic blended with Euro-chic style. An investment jacket that will last a lifetime.

(And with one zero less on the price tag than the Chanel original.)

Timeless with black cigarette pants and pumps.

Or totally on-trend with ripped skinny jeans and sky-high boots.

Slip into this Tibi jacket, pile on the pearls and wear with attitude

for a designer (yet affordable) take on Parisian-cool Chanel style.

Ooh la la.