The Peeping Toms over at The Coveteur have really outdone themselves with their latest room raid. On a recent trip to Paris, they were invited to snap the infamous digs of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel, which is apparently nothing like the late designer's signature black-and-white design aesthetic, and is actually very "Orient/Occident-inspired," as The Coveteur describes it. Either way, we're jealous.

One thing I noticed while visiting Paris recently is that everyone—men, women, even children—knows how to put together an effortless outfit. You'd think that recreating the look yourself would be just as easy, but it isn't. There's always something missing—or something not missing, rather. French minimalist style has yet to be perfected in the states for one main reason: They know to keep it simple where detail is concerned. As a well-known Parisian called Coco Chanel once said, "Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory." French style is all about extraction. Whether it's removing that statement necklace or swapping sky-high heels for flat boots, here are a few easy steps to help you answer to that je ne sais quoi.

According to Suzy Menkes in the New York Times, lace is making a comeback this season, adding delicate glamour to simple clothes. Specifically, black lace, which has been revered since the days of Coco Chanel, a woman who understood its delicacy and femininity. There are currently a myriad of options on the market, but here are a few favorites, after the jump.

The fact that legendary designer Coco Chanel was recently named by Time Magazine as one of the 25 most powerful women of the 20th century only goes to prove the impact Chanel has had on the lives of women around the globe. A little Chanel goes a long way, and there are all kinds of ways to bask in her chic legacy. Our Chanel gift picks, both quilted and perfumed, after the jump.

Rochelle Gores, owner of Los Angeles boutique Arcade, on working long days, saying bye bye to boho-chic, and the year of expansion.

After much talk and preproduction hell, the Coco Chanel biopic, Coco Avant Chanel (Coco Before Chanel), is finally slated to begin filming. Unlike the Lifetime biopic on Coco, the Warner Bros. film painstakingly recreates Chanel's life. French gamine Audrey Tautou was cast last year to play the young designer, and she'll be clothed in costumes from the Chanel archive. Even Kaiser Karl Lagerfeld is set to supervise the recreation of key Coco pieces worn by the designer herself. The film will start a 12-week shoot on September 15 in Paris, aiming for a 2009 release. Possibly a lock on the best costume Oscar.

Lifetime better get their fashion act together if they plan to succeed as the new home of Project Runway. Turns out the weepy network has a new MOW about fashion legend Coco Chanel -- and according the New York Times, it's not so good. (Why the Times is reviewing anything from Lifetime is anyone's guess.) The movie is rife with inaccuracies, starting with the actresses playing Chanel ... that being Barbara Bobulova as young Coco and screen legend Shirley McLaine as the older Coco. Suffice it to say, neither resemble the original. NYT critic Linda Stasi summarized the film thusly: "Clearly the filmmakers are striving for La Vie En Rose, but end up with La Vie En Dull." If you must, catch Coco on Lifetime September 13.