Coco Chanel: A Woman Before Her Time Yellow Magpie – About The Fascinating

Coco Chanel: A Woman Before Her Time

From humble beginnings, Gabrielle Coco Chanel rose to become one of the most prominent fashion designers in France, with her influences still shaping fashion today.

Responsible for liberating women from the tight fitting clothing of the day, Coco Chanel was indeed a woman before her time.

Born illegitimately in Saumur, France , on August 19, 1883, Gabrielle’s mother died when she was still a child, leaving her to be reared in an orphanage, run by nuns. It was the black and white habit worn by the nuns that was later to inspire her unique designs for women, notably the ‘little black dress.’

Coco Chanel On leaving the orphanage, the nuns secured her a job as a seamstress. However, Gabrielle had other plans, and was determined to make her fortune. She tried her hand at a number of jobs, including actress, horse-rider and cabaret singer. One of the popular songs she sang at a cafe where she worked, was ‘Ko Ko Ri Ko’ or ‘cock-a-doodle-do’. The rather uncouth clientele would shout ‘Qui Qu’a Vu Coco’, soon everyone was calling Gabrielle, Coco, and she didn’t object when the name stuck.

Affairs and Friendships

Coco, became the mistress of many a rich man, who not only opened the door to wealthy society, but who were able to set her up in business. Her relationship with one of these ‘sugar daddies’ allowed Coco to open her own millinery boutique. From there she became friends with the rich and famous of Paris, among them Diaghilev, Salvador Dali and Picasso. One of her most famous affairs was with the Duke of Westminster. It was he who inspired her to design the soft-belted coat, blazers, and tweed jackets, for women.

She also drew her fashion influences from nature, and the Camellia flower became a favourite. Coco was seen on many occasions wearing the Camellia, and it soon became her trademark.

Chanel Number 5

In 1921, Coco Chanel, working with Ernest Beatux, launched the famous, Chanel No. 5 perfume. Coco had been introduced to Beatux by another royal lover, Grand Duke Dimitry of Russia. The perfume was a mix of 128 ingredients, including jasmine which was the base note of the perfume. The creation of Chanel Number 5, was to immortalise Coco forever.

Little Black Dress

1925, saw the creation of the Chanel cardigan jacket, followed in 1928 with her first tweed outfit. However, Coco Chanel, is probably best remembered for the iconic ‘little black dress’, which she designed in 1926. Because of its versatility, the black dress is still considered a fashion must in every woman’s wardrobe, and can be either dressed up or dressed down depending on the occasion. Coco’s favourite way to wear the dress was with a string of pearls.

During World War 1, Chanel famously had an affair with a Nazi officer, which reduced some of her popularity, and she went to live for a while in Switzerland. Despite this on her return in 1954, she quickly re-instated herself, and her fashions, once again became all the rage.

Coco Chanel, worked up until she died in 1971, at the age of 88, by then she had moved into the Ritz Hotel, where she had taken up residence in 1939.

Trendsetter

As a trendsetter, women can thank Coco for taking them out of tight corsets and into comfortable clothes often inspired by men’s clothing. An astute woman, with a good head for business, Coco, was before her time and left us with an enduring heritage which will always be associated with classic style and elegance.

A film about the life of Coco Chanel, is currently receiving rave reviews, ’Coco Before Chanel‘ stars Audrey Tautou, check it out.