Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

Coco Chanel (1883-1971)
This legendary designer transformed fashion all over again. She

was the originator of the little black dress, the Chanel suite, bell
bottoms, and pea jackets. Neutral tones and solid fabrics cut in
simple shapes were her signature. Chanels style incorporated all
the comfort of a mens fashion while maintain a soft feminine
presence. She set the fashion of the little boy look (relaxed and
causal, a sharp contrast to the corset fashion popular in the
previous decade). Chanel promoted the flapper fashion and the
bobbed hair. Chanels fashion had a staying power, and still stayed
the same to this day and age.
The Chanel Suite

One chilly night at the polo grounds, Chanels boyfriend draped his
blazer jacket over her shoulders and she was so impressed with
the look that it gave to her shoulders that she invented her famous
ladies box jacket. The classical Chanel Suit is made up of boxy
lines, braided trim, slim skirts that are lined with gold link chains,
and buttons that resemble coins with the double CC logo displayed
amid them. The zipper is always placed on the side of the skirt to
enable comfort. Nowadays, the average cost of a Chanel suite is
$5 000.
Did you know?
Flappers sniffed cocaine, which was legal at the time

Chanel No. 5, the famous perfume that still remains
popular till this day, was promoted by Marilyn Monroe.
When asked what she wore in bed, Monroe responded
with Why, Chanel No. 5, of course!
Chanel had an affair in World War 2 with a Nazi officer
which resulted in some years of diminished popularity in
some parts of Europe
Katherine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical
Coco, based on the life of Coco Chanel
Prior to Chanels death, a custom Chanel suite or gown
coasted as much as $12 000
The name Coco came from Chanels stage name of a
carabaret singer
When Chanel accidently singed her hair, she chopped it off
and started the new hair craze called the bob
Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel

- 19 August 1883 to 10 January 1971
- 7 years in French orphanage where she was taught the trade of a seamstress,
Chanel left the orphanage at 18 to take up work for a local tailor
- First shop (now legendary) at 31 rue Cambon
- By 1920, the silhouette of her clothing designs have come to be the epitome of the
20s style
She promoted the styles we associate with flappers

Neutral tones of beige, sand, cream, navy and black in solid fluid jersey fabrics
cut with simple shapes that did not require corsetry or waist definition
Clothes made for comfort and ease in wear making them revolutionary and quite
modern (simple suits and dresses, womens trousers, costume jewelry, perfume,
textiles)
Originator of the little black dress (LBD)
Replaced the corset with comfort and casual elegance
1920, her fashion house had expanded considerably
Her chemise set a fashion trend with its little boy look (relaxed fashion, short
skirts, casual look were a sharp contrast to the previous decades)
Chanel herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable
fashions which other women also found liberating
Designs tended to be simple rather than opulent look
Most of her fashion had a staying power, and didnt change much from year to
year, or even generation to generation
She introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925
Known for: Chanel suit, Chanel jacket, bell bottoms, Chanel No. 5
Chanel suit: boxy lines, braided trim, slim skirt lined with a gold link chain,
buttons resemble coins or are gold with the double CC logo displayed amid them.
Always a ribbon sewed in the waist of the skirt to prevent the blouse from
slipping and the zipper is placed on the side of the skirt to enable comfort (idea
was to maintain the suits perfect shape for grace and elegance, even when the
wearer moves). Often accessorized with an excessive array of pearls, genuine and
costume, simple and gold intertwined, a classic quilted Chanel handbag with the
CC logo, Chanels trademark 2-toned pumps, or ballet flats. The average cost of a
Chanel suite is $5, 000 and can only be purchased at Chanel boutiques or at highend department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue.
Her first signature fragrance, Chanel No. 5, came out 1921. The first perfume to
have a designers name attached to it. Tremendous success since its introduction
When asked what she wore to bed, Marilyn Monroe famously replied with What
do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel No. 5, of course. (contributed to its popularity)
Chanel briefly served as a nurse in World War I
She lived in the Hotel Ritz Paris, for 30 years during World War II, when she
closed her shops because she believed it was not a time for fashion
Chanels affair during WWII with a Hans Gunther von Dincklage, a Nazi officer,
resulted in some years of diminished popularity in Paris and Switzerland
1954, Chanel returned to the fashion world, not much success with Parisians, but
applauded by the British and Americans
Later introduces pea jackets, and bell bottom pants
Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanels fashion house since 1983
Chanel has also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteaus Antigone
(1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including
Renoirs La Regle de Jeu
Katherine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco, based on the life
of Coco Chanel
Prior to her death, a custom channel suite or gown coasted as much as $12, 000
Bibliography
- http://www.fashion-era.com/flapper_fashion_1920s.htm
- http://womenshistory.about.com/od/chanelcoco/a/coco_chanel.htm
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coco_Chanel
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flapper
- http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/0819.html (article on
Coco Chanels death)
- http://www.coololdstuff.com/coco.html
- http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/chanel_related.html
Gabrielle Coco Chanel

1883 1971
By 1920, the silhouette of her clothing designs have come to be the epitome of the
20s style
She promoted the styles we associate with flappers
Neutral tones of beige, sand, cream, navy and black in solid fluid jersey fabrics
cut with simple shapes that did not require corsetry or waist definition
Clothes made for comfort and ease in wear making them revolutionary and quite
modern
Originator of the little black dress (LBD)
http://womenshistory.about.com/od/chanelcoco/a/coco_chanel.htm
Coco Chanel
19 August 1883 to 10 January 1971
Known for: Chanel suit, Chanel jacket, bell bottoms, Chanel No. 5
Also known as: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel
First millinery shop opened in 1912 to 1920s
Replaced the corset with comfort and casual elegance
Fashion themes included simple suites and dresses, womens trousers, costume
jewelry, perfume and textiles
By 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a
fashion trend with its little boy look relaxed fashions, short skirts, casual look
sharply contrasted to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades
Chanel dressed in mannish clothes adapted these more comfortable fashions
1922, Chanel introduced Chanel No.5 (perfume) which became and remains
popular to this day
Pierre Wertheimer became her partner in the perfume business in 1924 (lover?)
1925, introduced signature cardigan jacket
1926, introduced her signature little black dress
Most of her fashion had a staying power, didnt change much from year to year
Chanel briefly served as a nurse in WW1
Chanels affair during WW2 with a Nazi officer resulted in some years of
diminished popularity and an exile of sorts to Switzerland.
1954, her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture
Her Chanel suite caught the eye, later introduced pea jackets and bell bottoms
Worked to her death, 1971
Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanels fashion house since 1983
Chanel has also designed stage costumes for such plays as Cocteaus Antigone
(1923) and Oedipus Rex (1937) and film costumes for several movies, including
Renoirs La Regle de Jeu
Katherine Hepburn starred in the 1969 Broadway musical Coco, based on the life
of Coco Chanel
http://www.coololdstuff.com/coco.html
Coco Chanel
1912, Chanel met a wealthy socialite, Arthur Boy Capel who helped her open
her first hat shop in 1913
Her real break came in the early 20s when Chanel, with the financial help of
Capel, opened her first and now legendary shop at 31 rue Cambon
Raised in a French orphanage, the simplistic and stark dress of the nuns and their
environment influenced Chanels designs
Chanels simple little black dresses, square-ish suites and boyish design suits were
vastly divergent from the confining and tight-fitting corsets and long dresses with
petticoats
Mid `20s, Chanels comfortable and practical working costumes designs
flourished and she opened 2 boutiques one in Paris, and another in Biarritz
1931, Chanel hired by Samuel Goldwin for 1 million dollars to dress his stars
(Katherine Hepburn, Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor and Gloria Swanson) lasted
very short time because many starlets refused her service
Later in the 30s, Chanel designed and developed an array of costume jewelry
inspired by the art deco movement of the 30s
1939, after the fall of Paris, Chanel closed her boutiques and spent the next 15
years of her life living in Switzerland exiled due to a love affair with a Nazi
officer
Chanel spent much of the 50s and 60s working for various Hollywood studios,
dressing the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Liz Taylor and Anne Baxter clothing
became very popular, especially in the US
Prior to Chanels death, a custom Chanel suit or gown coasted as much as $12,
000
Chanel Suit
Boxy lines, braided trim, slim skirt lined with a gold link chain, buttons
resemble coins or are gold with the double CC logo displayed amid them
Always a ribbon sewed in the waist of the skirt to prevent the blouse from
slipping
Zipper is placed on the side of the skirt to enable comfort (idea was to maintain
the suits perfect shape for grace and elegance, even when the wearer moves).
Often accessorized with an excessive array of pearls, genuine and costume,
simple and gold intertwined, a classic quilted Chanel handbag with the CC logo,
Chanels trademark 2-toned pumps, or ballet flats.
Average cost of a Chanel suite is $5, 000 and can only be purchased at Chanel
boutiques or at high-end department stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue.
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/c/coco_chanel.html
Fashion fades, only style remains the same Coco Chanel
http://www.capitalistchicks.com/?q=node/156
Coco Chanel
Coco came from her stage name of a cabaret singer
Introduced comfortable boyish flapper hats that became a wildly popular
alternative to the stuffy feather plumed large brimmed hats
Chanels style incorporated all the comfort of a mens fashion while maintaining a
soft feminine presence
She was first to introduce the soft and carefree jersey fabric into garments other
than underwear
Arthur Capel had once draped his blazer jacket over Cocos shoulders one chilly
night at the polo grounds, and she was so impressed with the look that it gave to
her shoulders that it gave birth to her famous ladies box jacket
When Chanel accidently singed her hair, she chopped it off when she appeared
at an opera with her short hair, women everywhere began cutting off their locks
and sporting the new hair craze called the bob

Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

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Gabrielle Bonheur "Coco" Chanel

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Coco Chanel (1883-1971)

This legendary designer transformed fashion all over again. She

The Chanel Suite

Did you know?

Flappers sniffed cocaine, which was legal at the time

Gabrielle Bonheur Coco Chanel

She promoted the styles we associate with flappers

Gabrielle Coco Chanel

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