- Mini Bio
- Name: Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel
- Born: 19th August 1883, Saumur, Maine-et-Loire, France
- Died: 10th January 1971, Paris, France
- Resting place: Bois-de-Vaux Cemetery, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Alma mater: Convent of Aubazine
- Occupation: Fashion designer
- Label: Chanel
- Parents: Eugénie Jeanne Devolle and Albert Chanel
- Nickname: Coco
- Height: 5' 6" (1.6m)
- Founded: The House of Chanel
- Awards: The 1957 Neiman Marcus Fashion Award
- Designer to the stars: Her elite client list was the envy of the fashion world which included Elizabeth Taylor, Gloria Swanson, Grace Kelly, Greta Garbo, Jane Fonda, Jackie Kennedy, and Marlene Dietrich
- Inspired: Derek Lam, Donna Karan, Helmut Lang, Miuccia Prada, Oscar de la Renta, and Tom Ford
- Trivia: She acquired the nickname "Coco" after a song (Qui qu'a vu Coco dans le Trocadero) she was repeatedly requested to sing at a music hall called La Rotonde
"Elegance is when the inside is as beautiful as the outside"
Coco Chanel"His death [Arthur Edward Capel] was a terrible blow to me. In losing Capel, I lost everything. What followed was not a life of happiness, I have to say"
Coco Chanel"A man must be clever to keep me for ten years. Those ten years were tender and amiable years, and we've stayed friends, I loved him, or I thought I loved him"
Coco Chanel"They say all women should have a Romanian in their lives. I think all westerners should capitulate to the 'Slavic charm' to know what it is"
Coco Chanel"I was fascinated. Their 'all that's yours is mine' intoxicated me. All Slavs are distinguished, the most humble among them are never banal"
Coco Chanel"Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony"
Coco Chanel"We need dresses that crawl and dresses that fly. Fashion is at once a caterpillar and a butterfly, caterpillar by day, butterfly by night"
Coco Chanel"As long as you know that most men are like children, you know everything"
Coco Chanel"Success is often achieved by those who don't know that failure is inevitable"
Coco Chanel"I was able to open a high fashion shop, because two gentlemen were outbidding for my hot little body"
Coco Chanel"Youth is something very new: Twenty years ago no one mentioned it"
Coco Chanel"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud"
Coco Chanel"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different"
Coco Chanel"Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself"
Coco Chanel"Dress shabbily and they remember the dress; dress impeccably and they remember the woman"
Coco Chanel"Fashion changes, but style endures"
Coco Chanel"Fashion is architecture. It is a matter of proportions"
Coco Chanel"A girl should be two things: Classy and fabulous"
Coco Chanel"Fashion is made to become unfashionable"
Coco Chanel"Nothing is ugly as long as it is alive"
Coco ChanelGreat quotes are not where you find great wisdom. It's where you share this knowledge that counts
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Coco Chanel Biography
From a humble beginning Coco Chanel used her eye for design to become one of the greatest fashion couturiers of the 20th century. Her mother died when she was aged 12 and she was sent to an orphanage ran by nuns and this gave her the opportunity to learn how to sew and create clothes from various fabrics.
Before opening her first shop in 1910 she earned a living singing and entertaining patrons in cafe's and the music hall circuit that were popular in the first decade of 20th century France. Showing a keen eye for creative design her boutiques began to flourish with a long list of fashion conscious clients eager to embrace the natural look she introduced.
In 1921 she naively collaborated with the businessman Pierre Wertheimer whereby he produced a perfume called Chanel No 5 in a one sided deal that made him very rich using her name but disproportionately rewarded her a pittance in comparison. The product quickly became one of the worlds best selling perfumes and Coco spent the next 20 years fighting to wrestle back control of the brand.
After WW2 a legal dispute between Wertheimer and Coco was finally agreed as she received a lump sum of cash and two percent of all future sales would be given to her. WW2 saw her close down her business until in 1954 she announced to the world she was making a comeback and the House Of Chanel would reopen its doors to a style starved public looking for fashion inspiration.
Chanel No 5 got an unexpected boost when the Hollywood star Marilyn Monroe, who was at the height of her fame, gave it the marketing coup of the century as she purred the immortal quote: "What do I wear in bed? Why, Chanel Number 5 of course"
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Chanel's iconic designs still endure to today with the jacket suit, the little black dress, the perfume and the small handbag still as popular as ever with each new generation of fashionistas.
She was never one to hide her opinions and she was always good for a quick one liner, so here is my compilation of 20 of the best Coco Chanel quotes
Quotes About Coco Chanel
The author David Downie mused on her mystery: "Despite the work of a dozen biographers … Chanel remains an enigma"
The writer André Malraux noted her contribution to the world when he said:
The socialite and actress Lady Iya Abdy described her thus: "Chanel, General De Gaulle and Picasso are the three most important figures of our time"
"Coco has always been impressed by people with money and titles. She, who overcame all lifes barriers, was ashamed of her roots. Instead of being proud of where she came from, she tried fiercely to hide her origins. She vanquished everything from her childhood"