Thursday 3 April 2014

C - Coco Chanel



I created this fashion blog a couple of weeks back and I ought to brush up my knowledge and history about fashion and brands. So today I chose to write about  the french high fashion house Chanel's founder - Coco Chanel and about the origin of this fashion empire. 

 Chanel is a privately held french company and specializes in Haute couture, ready to wear clothes and fashion accessories. It's owned by Alain and Gerard Werthheimer.
The company was founded in 1909  by Coco Chanel. She was the founder and the reason behind it's existence and popularity. She built an empire due to her dedication and hard work. 

Coco Chanel's early life :  

Coco Chanel  was born in Saumur France in August 19, 1883 and her original name was Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. She and her family had humble beginnings. Her mother passed away while she was just twelve years old and thereafter she was placed in an orphanage.  Her father was a peddler. She learned the skill of sewing  in the orphanage which ultimately led her to create a fashion empire. She was a singer before she went into the fashion and clothing line.  It was during this period that she acquired the name 'Coco'.

At the age of twenty she got involved with Etienne Balsan who was an ex cavalry officer and a wealthy textile heir. She became his mistress and he helped her to start a millinery business. She started her business career by selling hats. She opened her first clothing shop in 1910.  In 1908 she fell in love with one of Balsan's friend Arthur Boy Chapel. They had a nine year relationship before it ended, when he met up with a car accident. This was the turning point in her life. According to her life was never the same after he passed away.  

She was the mistress of some of the most influential men, however she never got married. She said  “I never wanted to weigh more heavily on a man than a bird.” Coco Chanel died on January 10, 1971, at her apartment in the Hotel Ritz.

She revolutionized high fashion and everyday fashion. She became famous for the little Black dress, The Perfume No.5 de Chanel and the Chanel suit. They used garments that were functional, comfortable and at the same time beautifying the woman's figure. 

Chanel used masculine colours such as Grey and navy blue that stood for feminine boldness. She encouraged women to dress in clothes that were comfortable and to break away from the fashion constraints of that period. Her overall personality can be described as daring and bold and at the same time simple and classy.

I would end my post by these famous words quoted by her " Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only, Fashion is in the sky, in the street, Fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening. "
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