Coco Chanel: Biogrhapy, Perfume, Fashion & Facts
Coco Chanel was popularly known by the brand ‘CHANEL’ which she founded. She was the French fashion designer and business women who took her brand to the new heights. In the 20th century, Coco Chanel was the only fashion designer, listed in the TIME magazine’s list of ‘100 Most Influential People’.
Coco Chanel introduced trousers and short skirts for women which were easy to wear & practical. She revolutionized the concept of fashion for the women with her short hairs and little black dress.
At the age of 12, Coco Chanel lost her mother. His father being a vendor, sent his daughter to the orphanage. During her six years in orphanage, she learned sewing. Due to strictness of the orphanage, she shifted to boarding house of catholic girls in the town of Moulins.
Since she knew sewing, she worked as a seamstress in Moulins. In her free time she sang in cabaret events (a form of entertainment). From there she got her name ‘Coco’ and started knowing as ‘Coco Chanel’.
At the age of 23, Coco Chanel started her first love affair with Étienne Balsan. He was the wealthy ex-cavalry officer. During this time, Coco established her connection with rich aristocrats and knew their lifestyles.
In 1910, Coco Chanel finally broke up with Balsan and started her relationship with Arthur Edward. In the same year, she became licensed Hat maker and opened her first boutique ‘Chanel Modes’ in Paris.
Chanel modes gained huge appreciation and success such that the street in which it was present became famous by its name.
Their meeting was successful and both of them decided to make a perfume which had admirable fragrance. It took one year to Ernest Beaux, with repeated experiments to create a perfume having unique fragrance.
Then, all the ten perfume samples were represented in front of Coco Chanel, she selected perfume at number 5. For this, she gave the reason by stating that her lucky number was 5.
They decided the perfume to be of rectangular shape which was different from the other perfumes. It was the first perfume with the name of the designer.
She changed the definition of fashion for the women. Coco Chanel was confident and bold women who handled her business and designs proudly. Her all designs represent her bold personality.
Due to her love affair with German officer, Hans Gunther von Dincklage, she was arrested during the war time. But she was released after few hours. After this incident, Coco Chanel shifted to Switzerland. She stayed there for ten years.
Coco Chanel once again started making her own designs. Initially, her designs were not appreciated in Paris. But her those designs got an ovation in America, when they were revised a year later. Her designs were eternal and timeless which were wrap up with comfort.
It became the glory for women to wear clothes of ‘CHANEL’. Coco Chanel transformed into one of the wealthiest person who was managing the largest fashion industry.
In the 20th century, she was the only fashion designer in the Time’s list of ‘100 Most Influential People’.
Coco Chanel established her own legacy in the fashion world. There was a time when men designed clothes for women without noticing their need and comfort. But Coco Chanel changed the definition of fashion for women.
Once she stated that “Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses”. Thus, this highlighted the problem of women of that time. Her bold personality and strong attitude helped her to move forward from nothing to one of the wealthiest personality. According to Coco Chanel, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”
She designed such clothes for women which helped them to look classy and fabulous at the same time.
Coco Chanel introduced trousers and short skirts for women which were easy to wear & practical. She revolutionized the concept of fashion for the women with her short hairs and little black dress.
EARLY LIFE OF COCO CHANEL
Coco Chanel originally named as Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. She was born on 19th August 1883 in Saumur, France. Her parents married each other after one year of her birth.![]() |
Image source: timetoast.com |
At the age of 12, Coco Chanel lost her mother. His father being a vendor, sent his daughter to the orphanage. During her six years in orphanage, she learned sewing. Due to strictness of the orphanage, she shifted to boarding house of catholic girls in the town of Moulins.
Since she knew sewing, she worked as a seamstress in Moulins. In her free time she sang in cabaret events (a form of entertainment). From there she got her name ‘Coco’ and started knowing as ‘Coco Chanel’.
At the age of 23, Coco Chanel started her first love affair with Étienne Balsan. He was the wealthy ex-cavalry officer. During this time, Coco established her connection with rich aristocrats and knew their lifestyles.
START OF A NEW CAREER
Later, she began her first hat shop with the help of Captain Arthur Edward ‘Boy’ Capel. Capel promised to help her financially. Also, Coco started her another love affair with Arthur Edward.![]() |
Image source: chanel.com |
In 1910, Coco Chanel finally broke up with Balsan and started her relationship with Arthur Edward. In the same year, she became licensed Hat maker and opened her first boutique ‘Chanel Modes’ in Paris.
Chanel modes gained huge appreciation and success such that the street in which it was present became famous by its name.
ACHIEVEMENTS
In 1918, Chanel bought the whole building in one of the fashionable area of the Paris. Two to three years later, she started a fashion boutique comprised of hats, accessories and clothing, which later expanded to fragrance and jewelry.No. 5 Chanel Perfume
During 1920’s, she met the Grand Duke Dmitri Pavlovich from Russia. After few meetings, there were many things she learned from him and his culture. With the help of Dmitri Pavlovich, she met Ernest Beaux, a Russian perfumer.![]() |
Image source: calacsdechalevoix.com |
Their meeting was successful and both of them decided to make a perfume which had admirable fragrance. It took one year to Ernest Beaux, with repeated experiments to create a perfume having unique fragrance.
Then, all the ten perfume samples were represented in front of Coco Chanel, she selected perfume at number 5. For this, she gave the reason by stating that her lucky number was 5.
They decided the perfume to be of rectangular shape which was different from the other perfumes. It was the first perfume with the name of the designer.
Little Black Dress
Her black dress was revolutionary. It was designed for the comfort of women and to free them from the confinements of dresses of that time. Coco Chanel’s black dress became so prominent that it is still in use today.She changed the definition of fashion for the women. Coco Chanel was confident and bold women who handled her business and designs proudly. Her all designs represent her bold personality.
WORLD WAR II
1939 proved to be the bad year for Coco Chanel. She had enormous success in her hand despite of that she was forced to close her all shops and boutiques. Since, it was the time of World War II and all designers went far away but Coco still stayed in Paris.Due to her love affair with German officer, Hans Gunther von Dincklage, she was arrested during the war time. But she was released after few hours. After this incident, Coco Chanel shifted to Switzerland. She stayed there for ten years.
AFTER WORLD WAR
After the end of war, Paris was full of fashionable clothes and designers. But no one was offering fashion with comfort for women. Coco Chanel returned back to the Paris and fashion industry. Once she was asked the reason about her return, she replied, she was dying of boredom.![]() |
Image source: analiticaderetail.com |
Coco Chanel once again started making her own designs. Initially, her designs were not appreciated in Paris. But her those designs got an ovation in America, when they were revised a year later. Her designs were eternal and timeless which were wrap up with comfort.
It became the glory for women to wear clothes of ‘CHANEL’. Coco Chanel transformed into one of the wealthiest person who was managing the largest fashion industry.
In the 20th century, she was the only fashion designer in the Time’s list of ‘100 Most Influential People’.
LAST PHASE
When Coco Chanel turned 87 years old, she started feeling ill and week. One fine afternoon, she went for a long drive. On return, she was feeling ill, tired and weak. She slept early that night. Next day, on 10th January 1971, she died on her bed at the hotel Ritz, in Paris.CONCLUSION
Coco Chanel was confident and bold women. She had attractive personality and straight forward behavior. She used to communicate with many famous personalities and everyone found her strong and successful woman.Coco Chanel established her own legacy in the fashion world. There was a time when men designed clothes for women without noticing their need and comfort. But Coco Chanel changed the definition of fashion for women.
Once she stated that “Fashion has become a joke. The designers have forgotten that there are women inside the dresses”. Thus, this highlighted the problem of women of that time. Her bold personality and strong attitude helped her to move forward from nothing to one of the wealthiest personality. According to Coco Chanel, “In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”
She designed such clothes for women which helped them to look classy and fabulous at the same time.
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