Research Paper On Chanel

907 Words2 Pages

Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, more widely known as CoCo Chanel, was born on August 19, 1883, in Saumur France. Today, she is recognized as a renowned fashion designer who founded the fashion brand Chanel. Before her fame and fortune, however, Chanel faced an unfortunate childhood. Her mother, Eugénie Jeanne Devolle, was a laundry woman in a hospital in Saumur and her father, Albert, had little interaction with her as child. With little family income, she lived her early years in poverty. When Chanel was 12, her mother died of bronchitis and her father sent her to the orphanage of the Catholic monastery of Aubazine. While there, the nuns taught Chanel the basics of sewing, a skill that would dictate her future career. In addition to the knowledge …show more content…

In an interview with Paul Monrad, she stated “My fortune is built on that old jersey that I’d put on because it was cold in Deauville.” Her casual and sporty styles grew in popularity and by the 1920s, Chanel was a fashion icon. From her bob haircut to her tan skin, Chanel was the cutting edge of modern style. With her growing fame, she took her business to new heights, launching her first perfume, Chanel No. 5. In 1994, she became business partners with Pierre Wertheimer, whose family controls the perfume company to this day. Almost a century later, this perfume remains …show more content…

She launched her signature cardigan jacket, and the following year matched its success with her little black dress. This revolutionary style took the idea of a color designated for mourning and transformed it into a simple and chic color for evening wear. In addition to this, she introduced the Chanel suit, which entailed a collarless jacket and a well-fitted skirt. Her designs were revolutionary for the time—borrowing elements of men’s wear and emphasizing comfort over the constraints of styles popular at the time, such as corseted silhouettes. All of these items, including many other items produced by Chanel, continue to be prevalent throughout modern fashion. During World War II, Chanel was a nurse, although her post-war popularity was greatly diminished by her affair with a Nazi officer. During the conflict, she moved to Switzerland to escape the controversy; yet, she returned to Paris in 1954 and reopened her couture house. Although the scandal of her relationship brought about a hiatus in her fashion design and respect, she quickly regained her status with the launch of her iconic Chanel

More about Research Paper On Chanel

Open Document