Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel

Mercedes · 28-11-2005

Quote:

Popularly known as Coco Chanel or "Mademoiselle" by her inner circle, she was born in the small city of Saumur, France in 1883, although she asserted she was born in 1893, in Auvergne. Her mother died when she was six, and shortly afterward her father abandoned her and her four siblings; the Chanel children were then placed in the care of relatives and spent some time in an orphanage. After a couple affairs with generous wealthy men - a military officer and later an English Industrialist - she was able to open a shop in Paris in 1909, selling ladies hats and within a year moved the business to the fashionable Rue Cambon. Her influence on haute couture was such that she was the only person in the field to be named on the List of TIME Magazine's 100 most influential people of the 20th century.

Two of her most famous creations are Chanel No. 5 perfume, launched in 1923, and the influential Chanel suit, an elegant suit comprising a knee-length skirt and trim, boxy jacket, traditionally made of woven wool with black trim and gold buttons and worn with large costume-pearl necklaces. She also popularized the little black dress, whose blank-slate versatility allowed it to be worn for day and evening, depending on how it was accessorized. Although unassuming black dresses existed before Chanel, the ones she designed were considered the haute couture standard. In 1923, she told Harper's Bazaar that "simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance."

Coco Chanel by Cecil Beaton

photo source: www.gnam.arti.beniculturali.it

Mercedes · 29-11-2005

1

2

3

sources: http://lambre.by/, www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com, http://www.castalie.fr

Bonchic · 29-11-2005

^that last photo is one of my favorites of her

India · 29-11-2005

I once read that she's doing that pose in the last picture to draw attention to the movement of the sleeve. She thought the fit of a sleeve was really important and she would rip it off a jacket numerous times before she was satisfied.

Jadee · 01-12-2005

from http://www.peoples.ru/art/fashion/cu...nel/photo.html

from www.bbc.co.uk

from shop-like-mad.skyblog.com

Jadee · 01-12-2005

from http://www2.lhric.org/pocantico/wome...CMZZZZZZZ_.jpg,www.swarovski.com

Estella* · 03-12-2005

great thread, mercedes!

contrecourant.france2.fr

cheiby11 · 03-12-2005

Queen of tweed Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel, circa 1936

(style)

*Happiness* · 05-12-2005

Love the pics! Thanks for posting. Chanel is my middle name....but my mother spelled it with two L's.

northernsky · 12-12-2005

The great fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel 1883-1971 self styled herself to be known as Coco Chanel. By 1920 the silhouette of her clothing designs have come to be the epitome of 20's style. The work of other famous designers beside hers seemed old fashioned and outmoded belonging as they did to the pre World War One era.
She promoted the styles we associate with flappers. She worked in neutral tones of beige, sand, cream, navy and black in soft fluid jersey fabrics cut with simple shapes that did not require corsetry or waist definition. They were clothes made for comfort and ease in wear making them revolutionary and quite modern. [www.fashion-era.com]

skinny_boho · 06-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bonchic

^that last photo is one of my favorites of her

Mines too!

Miss Dalloway · 06-04-2006

Thanks for this thread!

cheiby11 · 07-04-2006

I wish we have more pic here

greeneyebeauty · 07-04-2006

She look so different in each picture.

Boomer · 07-04-2006

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cheiby11 V.I.P. Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Czech republic Gender: femme Posts: 6,278	I wish we have more pic here __________________

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29-11-2005	2
Mercedes rising star Join Date: Jun 2002 Gender: femme Posts: 162	1 2 3 sources: http://lambre.by/, www.litchfieldcountyauctions.com, http://www.castalie.fr

29-11-2005	3
Bonchic V.I.P. Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: South....... Gender: femme Posts: 5,948	^that last photo is one of my favorites of her __________________ "To LIVE is the rarest thing in the world. Most people EXIST, that is all"

29-11-2005	4
India front row Join Date: Jun 2005 Gender: femme Posts: 259	I once read that she's doing that pose in the last picture to draw attention to the movement of the sleeve. She thought the fit of a sleeve was really important and she would rip it off a jacket numerous times before she was satisfied.

01-12-2005	5
Jadee trendsetter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: France\ London Gender: femme Posts: 1,234	from http://www.peoples.ru/art/fashion/cu...nel/photo.html from www.bbc.co.uk from shop-like-mad.skyblog.com

03-12-2005	7
Estella* a dim capacity for wings Design Team Leader Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: la rue Gender: femme Posts: 7,651	great thread, mercedes! contrecourant.france2.fr __________________ mode schoepfung estella mare

05-12-2005	9
Happiness V.I.P. Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: it's beautiful up here... Gender: femme Posts: 4,115	Love the pics! Thanks for posting. Chanel is my middle name....but my mother spelled it with two L's. __________________ "when you become quiet, it just dawns on you." ~thomas edison.

12-12-2005	10
northernsky trendsetter Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,419	The great fashion designer Gabrielle Chanel 1883-1971 self styled herself to be known as Coco Chanel. By 1920 the silhouette of her clothing designs have come to be the epitome of 20's style. The work of other famous designers beside hers seemed old fashioned and outmoded belonging as they did to the pre World War One era. She promoted the styles we associate with flappers. She worked in neutral tones of beige, sand, cream, navy and black in soft fluid jersey fabrics cut with simple shapes that did not require corsetry or waist definition. They were clothes made for comfort and ease in wear making them revolutionary and quite modern. [www.fashion-era.com]

06-04-2006	12
Miss Dalloway V.I.P. Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 21,707	Thanks for this thread!

07-04-2006	14
greeneyebeauty backstage pass Join Date: Mar 2006 Gender: femme Posts: 661	She look so different in each picture.