SuperCaliFashionistic

There's been an awful lot of Chanel in the news lately, and this time the attention is centered on Lagerfeld's main muse, Baptiste Giabiconi. He's the face of the brand's last eleven campaigns and is currently numero uno on MDC's rankings. Last time we heard, Bappy G was collaborating with 50 Cent on his debut single, "Showtime." And Showtime it is. The sequence opens with a gangsta-fied Baptiste wearing low-slung jeans and sporting more jewelry than Paris Hilton. Bappy G soon finds the love of his life at a sleazy-looking diner and carts her away on a motorcycle. (Without actually riding one, of course, since Giabiconi has a self-professed fear of bikes). Not so easy. Miss Perfect also comes with an abusive albino man-friend who feels threatened, apparently, by Balmain-clad hipsters. The miffed Bappy shouts, "Vat's wrong weev you?" through a thick French accent, but to no avail. Cardinal rule number one: Don't upset a man whose clothes are worth the mortgage on your house. The camera zooms to Giabiconi's silver chain belt and hardcore rings (five, to be exact, and presumably Chanel). Under their perfectly groomed brows, Bappy's birdlike eyes turn menacing. The music starts up again and flashes to Giabiconi, this time wearing a ginormous statement necklace that rivals the fantastic creations of Tom Binns. Collar popped, the camera follows Bappy as he whisks the girl off on his waiting Vespa (or Harley Davidson, or Honda ... in fact, with the absence of lettering, it's quite difficult to determine). They proceed to consummate their relationship in a similarly sleazy-looking motel that apparently lacks sheets, but the lovestruck couple ignore the possibility of a not-so-romantic bedbug infestation. As the triumphant Bappy awkwardly windmills his arms against an obviously faux-desert backdrop, surrounded by unrealistic dust explosions, it becomes painfully apparent that Mr. Giabiconi is far better suited as a model than a musician. However, there's something to be said in favor of unabashed cheesiness - seriously, what else were you expecting from a Chanel-clad Frenchman? And it does have some major fashion cred (check out those moto boots at 0:33)! In fact, out of context, this could read more like a jewelry ad than anything else - Giabiconi seems to be defined by his charm bracelets, and he seems more interested in the girl's necklace than his lady love herself. For those of you more interested in the man than his accessories, this isn't the last time you'll see Baptiste. There's a second installment in the works.

Due to some seriously uptight copyright restrictions, the video is no longer available, but you can still watch it here.

Some fabulous screenshots after the jump.

Judging by her upcoming appearance in the Lagerfeld-lensed Pirelli Calendar, we're guessing Elisa is Karl's new favorite (besides Baptiste). Add to that a Chanel campaign, shot by the designer himself, and Sednaoui's status as girl of the moment is confirmed. On an unrelated note, Sednaoui looks uncannily like Julia Roberts in the second picture. Perhaps not completely unintentional, because the advert evokes the classic glamour of old Hollywood. The results, if tasteful, are a bit boring, even for a conservative French fashion house. But then again, eyewear was never the most scintillating subject (unless you're Tom Ford).