Crazy For Coco

crazyforCoco

Ten Fascinating Facts about Coco Chanel

by Anita Gabler

You’ve seen her designs all over the world, you’ve more than likely smelled her perfume once or twice, and her brand is known by the logo alone. But how much do you actually know about the woman herself?

Fact #1 Coco Chanel’s given game was Gabrielle

Born in Saumur, France in 1883, Coco Chanel was given the name “Gabrielle” Chanel. At 18 years old, she began working as a seamstress. On weekends, she sang at La Rotonde, a pavilion in a small park in Moulins. Two of the songs she would often sing had the refrains, “Ko Ko Ri Ko” and “Qui qu’ a vu Coco.” The patrons who came to hear her sing soon began calling her, “la petite Coco, ” meaning little Coco. She liked this, and never really fond of the name “Gabrielle”, she adopted Coco for her own.

FACT #2 Coco Chanel first became famous for designing boater hats

In 1910, Coco opened her first millinery shop in Paris and began designing boater hats. Simplistically stylish, the boater hat’s uncomplicated construction was an instant hit. She purchased simple “straw boaters from Galeries Lafayette department store, and then trimmed them with grosgrain ribbon or a single feather.” Wealthy Parisian women flocked to her shop to purchase the latest in fashion. Soon thereafter, Coco turned her considerable talents to designing clothes. In 1913 she opened her first boutique in Deauville. She designed sailor shirts with open necks, loose linen pants, long skirts and turtleneck sweaters. The women of Paris loved her simple, uncluttered style; she was on the way to building an empire.

Illustration by Jeff Marino

FACT #3 Chanel No. 5 is one of Coco’s most incredible creations FACT #7 Coco got knocked down, but she got up again!

Perfume. This was a key to Coco’s success. In 1920, she engaged an expert perfumer, Ernest Beaux, to design a variety of scents for her. When finished, he provided her two series: Numbers one through five and 20 through 24. Each was sniffed and tested, but how could Coco be sure? Her lucky number was 5 and she was presenting a new dress collection on May 5th. She loved the smell of the 5th sample, so all the signs seemed to be there. Ultimately, trusting her instinct, of all the scents presented by Monsieur Beaux, the scent of number 5 was her preference, and Chanel No. 5 was born.

Fact #4 Coco’s lack of patience was the inspiration for her classic handbag

Annoyed with always having to carry a handbag, Coco decided to design a handbag that would free up her hands. In February 1955, she designed the 2.55 bag with a strap. “The quilted leather was said to be an indication of her love of riding as a young woman. The chain served as a shoulder strap: golden metal plaited with a leather cord suggestive of horse bridles harnesses and also belts worn by the Catholic nuns who educated her as a child.” Her handbag designs would be the basis of a sensation that would thrive for years — and years — to come.

In 1955 Coco decided to reopen her shops, but not without some drama. The stigma of her wartime German associations had not been forgotten — and as she tried to make her way back into the fashion world, her collection was not well received by the French. But that didn’t stop her. While there was a chill in the air locally, her designs were an instant hit in America, and orders were abundant. She had not lost that je ne sais quoi; she was headed to the top again.

FACT #8 Coco was an all around designer and jewelry was part of her repertoire

Costume jewelry was another significant part of Coco Chanel’s genius for design. Many of her pieces were a reflection of her time growing up in the convent orphanage such as crosses and broaches made of colorful stones reminiscent of stained glass windows. Wearing cascades of pearls over simple jersey dresses became her trademark.

Fact #9 Coco had a healthy love life

Although Coco never married, she had many lovers throughout her long life. Significant men in her world included Etienne Balsan, Boy Capel, Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich Romanov, Hugh Richard, and Arthur Grosvenor, the second Duke of Westminster. She was engaged to marry the famous French designer, Paul Iribe, but he died of a heart attack before they could finalize their union.

Fact #5 Coco’s opened her first shop Fact #10 Coco lived her “haute” life until the end

With the financial help of her boyfriend Boy Capel, Chanel opened her first shop in January 1910 at 21 Rue Cambon. On the door were the words: “Chanel Modes.” She summoned her sister, Antoinette, and her aunt, Adrienne, to Paris to help as both were skilled seamstresses. Chanel wore her creations about town and people began talking. Before long, everyone wanted to know how they could get an amazing and unusual Chanel chapeau of their own. Success was hers!

Fact #6 Wartime woes: Coco Gets Hit Hard

The war years (1939-1945) were not kind. Coco closed her shops. It was alleged that during this time she had conspired with the Germans. In late August 1944, she was arrested by the Forces Francaises de I’intérieur and tried as a traitor. She was found not guilty and released.

Although literally “sick and tired” Coco carried out her “duties” as the head of the House of Chanel and died in 1971 at the age of 87 at the Ritz in Paris where she had lived for 37 years.

About the Writer

Anita Gabler, president and founder of Women and Fashion Inc., Palm Beach, FL, www.womenandfashion.net, has a passion for fashion and enjoys sharing it with others. She hosts informative fashion events where boutiques, fashion designers, and authors share their fashion knowledge with Women and Fashion enthusiasts. She is writing a book, “Palm Beach Fashion Secrets and More,” to be published in January 2017.