The history of the Chanel brand is extremely interesting and is inextricably linked to Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel. Known to most as the undisputed Lady of Fashion. Coco Chanel she was also an insightful interpreter of her times and had the ability to do so wonderfully contribute to the emancipation of women. She didn’t let the rules of society stop her. She destroyed the stereotype of a woman “squeezed” into a rigid dress code and age-old social roles. She gave women a new way of seeing themselves, expressing themselves, ultimately, being themselves.
Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel was born in Saumur on August 19, 1883 into a very poor family. Her father, Henri-Albert, was a street vendor, and her mother, Jeanne Devolle, a seamstress. After her mother’s premature death, Gabrielle and her four siblings were entrusted to the care of her paternal grandparents. They decided to send the boys to work and the granddaughters to the orphanage of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Aubazine. There, surrounded by the austere architecture of the abbey and women dressed only in strict black and white, little Gabrielle began to become Coco Chanel.
The History of Chanel: Tailoring and Singing
Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, when she came of age, moved to Moulins to attend a dressmaking course and start working at Maison Grampayre. There, with the first money she earned in her wallet, she began to frequent local clubs, performing as a cabaret singer. Her signature song wasWhere are you from Coco?And according to legend, from that moment on everyone started calling her Coco.
It was in a café in Moulins that she had the first of many important meetings that would mark her life. She became involved with Étienne de Balsan, the son of a textile entrepreneur, who invited her to move to his château in Royallieu. Their six-year relationship turned out to be more than a happy reunion for the designer. Coco Chanel, convinced that tailoring could become her own business, persuaded Balsan to finance her first establishment in Paris. In 1909, she began captivate the local clientele with their revolutionary dresses.
Coco Chanel the talented networker
If she were alive today, we would call Coco Chanel a talented networker. Because beyond her taste and technical mastery, Gabrielle was capable of creating important and functional creations, and finding patrons to sustain herself and her business.
He falls in love with her and financially supports Arthur Capel. He helps open the historical shop on Rue Cambon. Atelier where Parisian ladies go for hats. Among them is also the most fashionable actress of the time, Gabrielle Dorziat.
After this store, another one is opened in Deuville in Normandy, where the couple goes on vacation. This tourist spot is just perfect for advertising the creations they create. To make them known to an even wider group of women. Women who at that time wanted to break away from the fashion of the time and look for more comfortable clothes, adapted to a life on the move.
Jersey, perfume, little black dress, jewelry…
It was 1916 when Rodier, a French textile industrialist, gave her exclusive fabric, jersey. It turned out to be the best for emphasizing the uniqueness of Chanel’s creations. Its softness perfectly emphasized the female shapes and did not restrict movement. It was downright revolutionary, because at that time fashion was closely linked to the corset and crinoline, in which women felt like they were in a cage.
The set consisting of a skirt, a pullover and a cardigan thus becomes the first expressive Chanel fashion model, made primarily in colors such as gray, beige and navy blue. And of course in a very stylistically close combination of black and white.
The interwar period was a time of great innovation for Madamoiselle Chanel, who in 1921, thanks to the knowledge of chemist Ernest Beaux, gave life to the iconic perfumes entrusted to the Lafayette galleries. Chanel N.5 is a timeless fragrance that is even today considered one of the best ever invented. After them, other perfumes were born, such as N.22, Gardenia – inspired by the designer’s favorite flower, which she will once again propose in jewelry – and N.19.
Once you have shaped your stylistic vision, it’s time to think about accessories.
Thus, Coco Chanel calls upon Count Etienne de Beaumont and Prince Fulco di Verdura to launch an atelier dedicated to creating artificial jewellery. Coco loved the essence of the dress and wanted to pair it with fancy accessories.
She always carefully observes the attire of Parisian shop assistants, characterized by black dresses with white collars and cuffs. And this analysis turned into petit robe noir, a little black dress with the simplest possible lines, which can make every woman extremely elegant. This is democratic fashion for the wealthy and the less. Here only the type of fabric and details play the role of a variant.
The History of Chanel – Fashion Passes, Style Remains
A fitting example of this vision is the absolute success achieved Chanel suit, loved by women all over the world. Made of gabardine, tweed and of course jersey. A creation that is always the same in cut, but diverse due to the fabrics, which are always different. Always in line with the times.
Coco Chanel and the tan trend
Madame Coco was the first woman to recognize a tan as an element of female beauty. Until then, only women working in the fields had tanned skin. Thus, a tan characterized the poorer class. On the other hand, paleness was synonymous with nobility and economic prosperity. To such an extent that ladies of the time walked around the cities armed with umbrellas, veils and rather cumbersome sundresses.
But in 1923, a change came. Coco returned from a vacation in the Ivory Coast with a beautiful amber tan. And this inspired other women to want to emulate her.
Chanel Red Lipstick
The emerging feminist movement hailed him as a symbol of female strength. A democratic addition that gave women equality across social classes, economic status and profession. On the other hand, Madame raised the status of a true femme fatale symbol. Lipstick had to be applied perfectly, outlining the contour of the lips. The shape had to resemble a heart as much as possible.
Coco Chanel Knitted Suit
With the outbreak of World War II, Chanel was forced to withdraw from the fashion scene, but only for a while. Because her return in 1954 made her a popular stylist again. Gabrielle is now 71 years old. But, as we said, we are not talking about a woman who wants to stop creating. Coco still has a head full of ideas. That is why in its new collection N.5 shows a knitted suit that will be worn by many women around the world. From the most famous to the least known. Among them, Jackie Kennedy, who wore it on the day her husband JFK was assassinated Chanel suit in bright pink jersey. In this way, high fashion was intertwined with one of the most dramatic events of the 20th century.
Coco Chanel lived a full life. She worked until her death at the age of 87. She died on January 10, 1971. The history of the Chanel brand shows that a poor girl from an orphanage, forever changed international fashion and the concept of the female body. After her death, the Chanel brand was managed by Gaston Berthelot and Ramon Esparza. Assistants of Madame Chanel. Then in 1983 they passed it to creative direction of Karl Lagerfeld. An extraordinary designer who knew how to create the stylistic designs of a contemporary fashion house without ever betraying Coco’s original vision.
