Why do I love Coco Chanel ?

"Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future."

Coco Chanel has an inspiring story that should be known by any girl who is ambitious and has big dreams. In fact, she is the only couturier to have made it in the list of the 100 of the most influential people of the 20th century.

What makes her stand out?

Gabrielle Chanel, later known as Coco, was born into a poor family and became an orphan by her mother and abandoned by her father when she was very young. She spent most of her childhood in an orphanage and convent where she also learnt how to saw. Growing up under such harsh circumstances made her increasingly ambitious, having dreams of moving to Paris and starting a career there.

One of her first relationships was with baron Etienne Balsan. Although she moved in the baron's estate, he didn't treat her very well. He didn't like to be seen in public with her, didn't introduce her to his friends and made fun of her on account of not wanting to wear dresses and having a sense of style inspired by menswear. She soon became bitter of the relationship, but was hesitant in leaving the baron because she didn't have any other place to go to, she didn't have anything. Instead, she spent her time designing hats and creating clothes for herself that were made out of cheap materials such as jersey.

Soon, she met the love of her life, Captain Arthur Edward 'Boy' Capel. After finding out that Capel had no intention of marrying a mistress but that he was set up to marry an English woman, she gave up on the idea of love, but not on men. Her affair with Capel lasted for many years and he along with Balsan helped her move to Paris and open her first hat shop. Soon, after Chanel became successful Capel died.

Chanel stands out because she realized that women needed a change. Women were becoming more independent and their style and social position would require a change. She was a pioneer of elegant simplicity, emphasizing on comfortable materials and pants. She invented the little black dress and changed the world of perfume, creating Chanel no. 5 by using chemical formulas rather than flowers. She said that she wanted to smell like a woman not like a flower. She revolved in the social world of Igor Stravinsky, the duke of Westminster, Salvador Dali, Picasso and Jean Cocteau.

Below you can find a Vogue presentation of Chanel's famous apartment and a trailer of the movie Coco Before Chanel, I highly recommend it.





Videos from watchCulturetainment and vogue - www.youtube.com