CHANEL knows that when the worlds of fashion and literature converge, magic happens. That’s why the French fashion house is continuing their rich literary tradition, with the fifteenth edition of the Literary Rendezvous at Rue Cambon.

Hosted by CHANEL and House ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi, the latest instalment centred on Sidonie Gabrielle Colette, a French writer, journalist and music-hall artist, and emblematic figure of 20th century French literature. Invited guests like Emmanuelle Lambert, a Colette specialist and author of Sidonie Gabrielle Colette, actress and director Clémence Poésy, and journalist Olivia Gesbert convened in the library of the iconic 7L book shop, just one day after the CHANEL Spring-Summer 2025 Ready-to-Wear show was unveiled in Paris. 

It’s not hard to understand why Colette was selected for this confab. A close friend of Gabrielle Chanel, Colette rose above scandal, and rebelled against the restrictive societal expectations of the 20th century, to become one of the most successful and revered authors of her generation. Her literary career began when she was just 20, when her then-husband encouraged her to record her teenage memories. Heeding this advice, Colette published three novels, each under his name: Willy. From then on, she dedicated the rest of her life to liberating herself — both personally and professionally — from the confines of patriarchal society. Much like Chanel, Colette was liberated, tomboyish, and astutely business-minded.

It’s these traits that formed much of the discussion at the rendezvous. Gesbert moderated the conversation, delving into Colette’s many works and charting her literary successes in Claudine à l'école (1900-1930), Le Pur et l'Impur (1932) and La Vagabonde (1910). Through each of these works, Gesbert highlighted that, perhaps the most remarkable of all of Colette’s literary characters was Colette herself. Gesbert spotlighted how Colette’s multifacetedness pours out on her pages: she’s at once tender, vicious, sensual, and maternal. Or, as host Casiraghi so perfectly  put it:  “Her work evokes the immense freedom to reinvent one's life and be reborn.”

The fifteenth iteration of the Literary Rendezvous is available to experience in full on the CAMBON PODCASTS podcast.