Part of my Wish List this week is to have Santa deposit a copy of the new publication on Coco Chanel by Justine Picardie neatly under the Christmas tree!
From her first millinery shop, opened in 1912, to the 1920s, Gabrielle 'Coco' Chanel rose to become one of the premier fashion designers in Paris, France. Replacing the corset with comfort and casual elegance, her fashion themes included simple suits and dresses, women's trousers, costume jewelry, perfume and textiles.
She adopted the name Coco during a brief career as a cafe and concert singer 1905-1908. First a mistress of a wealthy military officer then of an English industrialist, Coco Chanel drew on the resources of these patrons in setting up a millinery shop in Paris in 1910, expanding to Deauville and Biarritz. The two men also helped her find customers among women of society, and her simple hats became popular.
Soon Coco Chanel was expanding to couture, working in jersey, a first in the French fashion world. By the 1920s, her fashion house had expanded considerably, and her chemise set a fashion trend with its "little boy" look. Her relaxed fashions, short skirts, and casual look were in sharp contrast to the corset fashions popular in the previous decades. In 1922 Coco Chanel introduced a perfume, Chanel No. 5, which became and remained popular, and remains a profitable product of Chanel's company. Chanel herself dressed in mannish clothes, and adapted these more comfortable fashions which other women also found liberating. Coco Chanel introduced her signature cardigan jacket in 1925 and signature "little black dress" in 1926.
Nazi occupation meant the fashion business in Paris was cut off for some years. In 1954 her comeback restored her to the first ranks of haute couture. Her natural, casual clothing including the Chanel suit once again caught the eye -- and purses -- of women. She introduced pea jackets and bell bottom pants for women. She was still working in 1971 when she died. Karl Lagerfeld has been chief designer of Chanel's fashion house since 1983.
This is my homage to Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel:
The Woman
{August 19, 1883 - January 10, 1971}
The Designs
I LOVE how feminine her creations were...even the more "manly" designs. It was definitely a unique style.....she certainly was in a class of her own and a very beautiful woman to boot!
hugs
hello gorgoeus xxx
