wear (a) Chanel

[JungKim]

The first time that Kristen wore Chanel for a public appearance was at the Toronto Film Festival in 2007 and she has done so on several occasions since, including the Met Ball in 2010 and at the Chanel Haute Couture fashion show in July 2013.
-Just Jared

It seems to mean that she wore a Chanel garment, in which case do you say "she wore Chanel" or "she wore a Chanel"?

 

[Copyright]

We wear designers -- so she wore Chanel (as a general statement). But if you get specific and say "she wore a Chanel tailored suit," you would use the article.

 

[boozer]

'A Chanel', just like 'a Picasso', would be 'a garment/painting made by Chanel/Picasso'. So your example is correct.

 

[JungKim]

Can you say "she wore a Chanel."?

 

[JungKim]

If you can say both "she wore Chanel" and "she wore a Chanel", then can you also say both "she drove BMW" and "she drove a BMW"?

 

[Copyright]

With a bit more thought, I agree that you can "wear Chanel" or "wear a Chanel," but in the world of fashion and celebrity reporting, I would expect "wear Chanel."

You can also use it for cars. "My father always bought Studebaker" (a true statement as he owned 13 of them). When you're referring to a brand in a general statement, you can drop the article.

 

[boozer]

If you can say both "she wore Chanel" and "she wore a Chanel", then can you also say both "she drove BMW" and "she drove a BMW"?

Sound logic and a good question. I personally would say: she only drove bmw cars or she drove a bmw. I woud avoid She drove BMW to mean many cars of the brand...

 

[Smauler]

You don't wear a Chanel - you either wear Chanel or wear a Chanel dress, outfit, or whatever. Wearing Chanel is more normally said about stars, etc

We wear designers

Heh... speak for yourself.

 

[Copyright]

Heh... speak for yourself.

Well, somebody had to design those shabby threads I see you in – they just prefer to remain anonymous.