Coco Chanel is a legendary name in the fashion world. Chanel is associated with famous perfumes, a little black dress, tweed suits and long pearl threads. But do you know what kind of woman hides behind a recognizable logo? Chanel's life facts reveal a dramatic story that has a place for love, luxury and loneliness.
Coco Chanel is a legendary name in the fashion world. Chanel is associated with famous perfumes, a little black dress, tweed suits and long pearl threads. But do you know what kind of woman hides behind a recognizable logo? Chanel's life facts reveal a dramatic story that has a place for love, luxury and loneliness.
What was Coco's childhood like?
The real name of the designer is Gabrielle Bonner Chanel. Her childhood did not at all resemble a fairy tale of a luxurious life. His father was a street vendor, his mother was a laundress in the monastery hospital. Gabrielle was born in 1883 and her parents were unmarried.
When the girl was 12 years old, her mother died, weakened by a whole factor of causes: tuberculosis, pneumonia, pregnancy, backbreaking work and life in poverty. Father sent Gabrielle with 2 sisters to the monastery shelter, where she lived until the age of 18. He never appeared in the lives of his daughters.
What was her first profession?
Chanel, like many great personalities, started from the bottom. During the day she worked as a seamstress, and in the evening she sang in a provincial cabaret.
Where did the name Coco come from?
Chanel earned her nickname in her youth when she acted as a cabaret entertainer. She performed a song with the line "Who saw Coco in the Trocadero?" Chanel's stage career was short-lived.
According to another version, Coco is an abbreviation for "cocotte" - "a woman in support." Chanel herself preferred to say that she received the nickname "Coco" ("chicken") from her father in childhood.
When was Chanel created?
Chanel opened its first factory in 1910 on rue Cambon in Paris. It was a small atelier for the production and sale of women's hats. The head office of the House of Chanel still exists today at Paris, Rue Cambon, 31.
How did Chanel # 5 perfume come about?
The fragrance was created in 1921. The author of the composition is Ernest Bo, a perfumer of Russian origin. “# 5” means that Chanel chose 5 vials from 10 samples created by the perfumer.
Chanel and the lion: what's the connection?
The lion is one of the symbols of the Chanel brand. This motif is found in the decoration of clothing, design of watches and jewelry.
Coco was a Leo by horoscope. In addition, she was inspired by Venice, sometimes called the Lion City.
Who was her husband?
Coco has never been married, but she had many life partners. Men have been instrumental in her success. They had titles and big money, but Chanel preferred independence.
Gabrielle's first known patron was Etienne Balsan, the heir to the textile business, who helped her friend open her first atelier.
Coco's greatest love is believed to be the English polo player and life-changer Arthur-Boy Capel. He was a friend of Balsan, gave Gabriel money to open boutiques in Deauville and Paris. Capel has become one of the main inspirations for the Chanel style. He died in a car accident in 1919.
Why is Chanel considered an influential designer?
Coco became famous for many reasons - she was successful, rich, and sometimes shocked the public. She became a great designer thanks to her revolutionary approach to clothing.
Chanel's models looked not only relevant and beautiful, but at the same time they were comfortable and did not restrict movement. She turned the mourning black color into a symbol of luxurious simplicity and introduced men's clothes into the women's wardrobe: trousers, vests, tweed and knitwear. She defied taboos and encouraged women to do the same - in fashion and in life.
When did she die?
In recent years, Gabrielle has lived at the Ritz Hotel in Paris. She also died there of a heart attack in 1971. “This is how they die,” - these were the words of the lonely Chanel, abandoned to the servants.
