Born into a family of pedlars and later sent to a religious orphanage after the death of her mother, Gabrielle Chanel transformed herself into history's most important fashion designer through want and plain willpower. Much of today's modern female fashion; little black dresses, cardigans, T-shirts and sportswear, flat shoes and outfits that fit a woman's body-come from Chanel’s mind. Chanel even changed how women smell: Chanel No. 5 was the first synthetic perfume, and is still today's most popular fragrance in the world. Coco Chanel changed the fashion world, beauty world, and the way women think about themselves and the industry.
Gabrielle Chanel was born in August of 1883 into a poorhouse of France. Chanel was one of five kids to her pedlar
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Eventually she felt she was ready to make a step towards her dream and open a store. Feeling comfortable and making a name for herself in the upper class social circle, Chanel sewed more, showing off her fashionable designs. She began to seek financial support from Baslan to open a store. Balsan would not entertain the idea. Then, 1914 Chanel met Arthur "Boy" Chapel, the love of her life. Chapel completely supported Chanel opening her own store. Chapel, who was from England, met Chanel when he was in France for a week – long fox hunt, and when he left to return, Chanel caught up to him at the train station, without a bag in hand. Balsan a little jealous did not want Chanel to leave with him. He even allowed Chanel to set up her shop in his Paris apartment to make her stay. Then, later with the success of her store and Chapels money, she opened a new shop at 21 Rue Cambon (Dow 92). Coco was emerging into the upper class. Her past was almost behind her and her dreams were in reach. “Her new simple and comfortable designs became popular, and success soon followed; she soon added clothing to her selection of hats. People were as fascinated by Chanel as they were by her designs, often coming into her shop just to see what she looked like. As she grew in fame, her illegitimate birth and lower class origins gradually disappeared, and Chanel became a full, if unique, member of Parisian society” (Dow 92). Chanel was in the place in her life she always dreamed of. She was on the verge of changing the fashion
During her time in Moulins Chanel met and courted Etienne Balsan, an affluent textile hier. For three years she lived with him at his castle in Compiègne serving as his mistress. There Chanel lived a life of wealth and luxury that would not have been possible without Balsan. Later in her career it was those riches that inspired many of her iconic designs; her times spent on yachts lead her to incorporate those traditionally sailors looks of striped shirts and bell bottoms into her later
...s far as the author is concern, the fact that CoCo Chanel left the Victorian ideas and lived a life of her own made other women admire her. According to the author, clothing design was her star that raised her above other women. It would be better if other women would emulate her character and moral beliefs that should attract other women.
Berry, Hannah. “The Fashion Industry: Free to Be an Individual.” The Norton Field Guide to
Working at her father’s clothing shop, she became very knowledgeable about expensive textiles and embellishments, which were captured in her works later in career. She was able to capture the beauty and lavishness of fabrics in portraits of aristocratic women.
As a teenager, Marie spent her time enjoying Versailles' and Paris' night life with a notorious clique and fondness of making fashion statements through extravagant couture and bold coiffures (“The Grand Dauphin”). ...
Eva’s fortunes changed, however, as in a couple of months she found herself a new job at the large department store, Milwards. Eva was delighted with her new job which made her the happiest she had been in a long time. “She was among pretty clothes.” The Inspectors line of inquiry turned to Mr. Birling’s daughter, Sheila. He wanted to try and establish her involvement in the death of Eva Smith. Sheila used Milwards store regularly. Sheila was out shopping for the perfect dress. After many fruitless visits to other stores Sheila finally decided to try Milwards. She demanded to try a particular dress on, against her mother’s advice. After trying it on she realized to her horror that ...
Chanel was nicknamed “Coco” after a lost dog in a popular song she loved to sing. Her early career was funded by a succession of her rich lovers. This allowed her to open her first shop in Paris in 1910. She sold hats as well as some garments. Coco developed a significant following of clientele who enjoyed her practical sportswear creating great success.
Hubert de Givenchy was born on February 20, 1927 in Beauvais, France. When he was young his father died, leaving him to be raised by his mother and grandfather. His wealthy family never approved of Givenchy’s love for fashion and instead wanted him to attend college and pursue a career in law. Eventually he attended college achieving his career in law but realized his love for fabrics and fashion was stronger (In influential fashion, 2002).
Werle, Simone. Fashionista A Century of Style Icons. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1977. Print.
Though she rose to prestige in her young adult life, Coco Chanel’s childhood wasn’t as illustrious as her successful adulthood. After Chanel’s mother died she was placed into an orphanage by her father who was a peddler. During the time she was there she was raised by nuns, and taught a great deal of things all above which was how to sew. So early on it can be said that it was Chanel’s destiny to become the trendsetter that she eventually became. Chanel had a brief career as a singer in a café which ended only a little while after it had started though the name she’d supposedly been given, “Cocoette”, would last her a lifetime, and would be further shortened down to the iconic “Coco” giving rise once again to her almost prophetic destiny. Coco would not only be a trademark for years to come, but it would be a name that was associated with prestige; the Chanel brand’s badge of honor if you will. It was easy to say though that Chanel did not have an ideal childhood, nor a glamorous one, but rather an essential one for her to real...
Fashion has been around ever since ancient times, since the time of the Romans, it survived the world wars and is yet today a business with rapid changes. Fashion started off as an art form, a way for the rich to show their social status with unique and innovative designs that only they could afford. It was a way to separate the social classes of the society. In this paper I will include the creators of haute couture, and how the following designers developed couture, as well as leading names in today’s ready-to-wear industry. The list is long, but I chose to focus on the three most important designers in the modern fashion industry.
We might think of it as getting to know someone, but this really was allowing him to have a glimpse into her life. Not only would the young woman be likely to return to the store in the future, but the shop-owner would know that there was a particular product that she needed in order to care for her household.
“Simplicity is the keynote of all true elegance. (Gabrielle ‘CoCo’ Chanel) To her modesty was the chicest way of proclaiming one’s superiority. she wanted to get rid of everything that put women at the mercy of convention, that got in their way, that slowed them down.” Edelman (1997 p20)
“Elegance is not the prerogative of those who have just escaped from adolescence, but of those who have already taken possession of their future “(Elegance par. 1). Chanel was a woman who was always seen wearing her own unique fashion. She would never be seen wearing something society would see as something a normal woman would wear; this made her unforgettable (Charles-Roux 5-6). In the beginning, Chanel was only known for creating and designing hats, but she would soon be known for so much more (Charles-Roux 91). Because of Chanel’s new bold ideas, the women’s fashion industry has forever been changed (Charles-Roux 6).
Chanel was put to work at the age of 20, working as a seamstress to a French textile heir and racehorse owner. Chanel got the nickname Coco from a song